Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20
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 5.0)
The plan shows the layout of a college Cafe before and after its redesign.
Overall,Cafe has significant redevelopments which includes the major changes in the the addition of seating area and foor serving area.Some Some existing features have been removed.Some existing feature are relocated.
Before redesign, Cafe wasa simple design,Main facilities were included the tables,chairs,waste bin,Toilets and specfically staff dining rooms along the serving window along a kitchen at the back side.
After Redevelopment, The Cafe has expanded. Additional table and chairs are added. Specially Outdoor seating is introduced to enjoy the weather. Serving facilities are added in a modern way in which separate portions are available to purchase Coffee, For hot meal and for the additional items such as Salad bar. New Barbecue section is present along the outdoor seating. The layout is now more functional. Now it is more spacious.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to summarise the main changes between the two plans, noting the expansion of the cafe, the addition of outdoor seating, and the reorganisation of the food serving areas. However, there are notable omissions and inaccuracies; for instance, the staff dining rooms are incorrectly described as serving windows instead of separate rooms, and some details are vague. Furthermore, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 142 words, which directly impacts the task achievement score under IELTS guidelines.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into short paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs for the 'before' and 'after' states. However, the progression is disjointed due to repetitive phrasing and frequent mechanical errors (e.g., 'Some Some existing features'). Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate ('Before redesign, Cafe wasa simple design'). Paragraphing is attempted, but the overall structure feels fractured and lacks smooth transitions between ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple words like 'cafe', 'tables', and 'chairs'. There are several word choice and collocation issues, such as 'foor serving area' and 'purchase Coffee, For hot meal'. While the student attempts some less common vocabulary ('redevelopments', 'redesign', 'functional'), the range remains limited and inadequate for a higher band, with noticeable errors that occasionally make reading awkward.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting mostly of simple sentences ('The plan shows...', 'The Cafe has expanded.'). There are numerous grammatical errors, including missing articles ('Cafe has significant redevelopments', 'Cafe wasa simple design'), punctuation errors, and word-formation issues ('redevelopments', 'redesign'). Complex structures are rarely attempted, and when they are, they contain noticeable errors that reflect weak control over basic grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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