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 assigned maps show the look of the cafe before and after refurbishment.
Overall, the cafe has been extended likewise barbecue and outdoor seating arrangement has been added in the cafe. Mostly new facilities has been added with some transformations in bins, take away food, coffee bar, and hot meals.
To commence with, numereous changes has been occured in the cafe like kitchen area has not altered but serving area is converted into hot meals. Moreover, staff dining rooms are transformed into take away food and coffee bar. Salad bar is opened up on the western side of tables and chairs. Besides, bin has been changed into recycling bins.
Despite this minor changes some significant amenities are newly added in the cafe like cafe did not have barbue cue and outdoor seating access previously, now the cafe is fully equiped with outdoor seating and barbuecue. Thus cafe today has more amenities after it is redesigned.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to address the task by comparing the layout of the college cafe before and after the redesign. Key changes such as the conversion of staff dining rooms into a take-away food area and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, and the introduction of outdoor seating and a barbecue are identified. However, there are some inaccuracies and vague statements, such as the claim that the cafe has been 'extended' and a misunderstanding regarding a 'barbecue' placement. Furthermore, the response lacks a clear, data-driven overview of the main trends. The word count just meets the 150-word minimum, but the development of ideas remains somewhat limited and superficial. This performance aligns best with Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response has a basic organisational structure with an introduction and body paragraphs. However, the progression of ideas is disjointed, and cohesive devices are used clumsily or inaccurately (e.g., 'To commence with', 'Despite this minor changes'). Paragraphing is attempted, but sentences feel abrupt and lack smooth transitions. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to follow the spatial descriptions of the cafe's transformations. This fits the Band 5.0 descriptors, where some organisation is present but overall progression is lacking and cohesive devices are inadequate.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms directly lifted from the prompt such as 'cafe', 'kitchen', 'serving area', and 'tables and chairs'. There are notable word choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'barbue cue', 'outdoor seating access', and 'numereous changes has been occured'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are either misspelled or unnatural. The lexical range is minimally adequate for the task, causing some strain for the reader. This performance corresponds to a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex or passive constructions frequently contain severe errors (e.g., 'Mostly new facilities has been added', 'numereous changes has been occured', 'kitchen area has not altered but serving area is converted'). Subject-verb agreement errors, spelling mistakes ('barbue cue', 'equiped'), and punctuation issues are frequent throughout the text. These errors consistently distract the reader and impede comprehension at times. This falls clearly into the Band 4.0 or 5.0 range, leaning towards a Band 5.0 due to the presence of some correct simple sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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