Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Student answer (Band 8.5)
The two floor plans illustrate the structural modifications made during the renovation of a college cafeteria.
Overall, the café has undergone a comprehensive modernization aimed at improving customer service and expanding total capacity. While the primary kitchen infrastructure and restroom facilities remained unchanged, the former staff-centric spaces were completely replaced with specialized commercial food counters, alongside a major expansion into outdoor dining.
In the original layout, the kitchen occupied the northwestern corner and was connected to a single serving counter that handled all food and beverage distribution. The central zone featured two private staff dining rooms, while the rest of the open interior space was dedicated to general tables and chairs. A single waste bin was situated against the eastern wall, just north of the toilets located in the southeastern corner.
Following the redesign, the central staff dining rooms have been completely demolished and replaced by an open-access takeaway food counter and a specialized coffee bar. While the main kitchen remains in place, its previous general serving counter has been converted into a dedicated hot meals section. Additionally, a new salad bar has been installed along the western interior wall, and the original waste bin has been upgraded to a recycling facility. Most notably, the facility has expanded southwards to introduce an outdoor dining terrace complete with extensive seating options and a dedicated barbecue area in the southwestern corner.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The student fully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear summary and comprehensive comparison of the two floor plans. The response accurately identifies key changes, such as the removal of the staff dining rooms in favor of a takeaway counter and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, and the introduction of outdoor seating and a barbecue area. An effective overall summary is provided at the beginning, highlighting the café's modernization and expanded capacity. The details selected are entirely grounded in the visual data, showing an excellent ability to select and report main features without omitting critical aspects.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The essay is exceptionally well-organized and easy to follow. Information is logically sequenced, beginning with a broad introductory overview before moving into specific details of the original layout and subsequently the redesigned layout. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately. Cohesive devices are managed naturally and flexibly, with words and phrases such as 'Overall', 'In the original layout', and 'Following the redesign' providing seamless transitions between ideas without ever feeling mechanical or intrusive.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items are used skillfully and with a strong awareness of collocations, such as 'structural modifications', 'comprehensive modernization', 'kitchen infrastructure', and 'open-access takeaway food counter'. Word choice is precise throughout, and there are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, demonstrating sophisticated control over the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response exhibits a wide and varied range of complex sentence structures used with full flexibility and accuracy. Grammatical control is exceptionally strong, featuring well-constructed participial phrases ('expanding total capacity', 'complete with extensive seating options') and subordinate clauses. Punctuation is flawless, and sentences are virtually error-free, matching the descriptors for top-tier grammatical accuracy.
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