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 plans show previous redesigned college cafe and how it seem now. The cafe has several changes from the old designs, there are extra outdoor spaces and have different changes in the new blueprint.
Overall, Kitchen and toilets is only unaltered change in desings and the huge changes can be seen outdoor where there are multiple seating spaces and barbecue area, also two new exit/entry door has been designed on that side.
Firstly, previous staff dining rooms has been changed to two different compart and area where on the left is take away food and on the right is coffee bar in the new designs. Moreover, inside there kitchen right corner side there is little difference that is before there was serving area (all food and drinks) and after new designs there is hot meals only serving area.
Although, table and chairs area is still the same however, there is new section added which is salad bar and the recycle bin has been expanded to more than double size than before.
In conclusion, the cafe today and before had many changes from small details to large details. The difference can be seen clearly.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully covers the main features of the two plans, noting key alterations such as the conversion of staff dining rooms into a takeaway food area and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, and the introduction of outdoor seating and a barbecue. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, identifying main changes like the outdoor expansion and the retention of the kitchen and toilets. However, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as claiming the recycling bin has been 'expanded to more than double size', whereas the plan simply shows a repositioned and slightly modified container. Overall, the response addresses the task adequately and highlights the principal comparative changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is arranged into five paragraphs, following a standard introduction, overview, body paragraphs detailing specific changes, and a brief conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion', to structure the writing. However, some transitions and referencing feel a bit mechanical or awkward, such as 'inside there kitchen right corner side there is little difference that is before there was...'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the logical flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by repetitive phrasing and weak connective links.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for describing a map comparison task, featuring terms like 'redesigned', 'blueprint', 'alterations', and 'compart and area'. However, there is a lack of sophisticated or less common vocabulary, and lexical control is unsteady with frequent awkward word choices and forms, such as 'previous redesigned' instead of 'previously redesigned', 'compart' instead of 'compartments', and 'recycle bin' instead of 'recycling bin'. These vocabulary limitations and word formation errors restrict the lexical score to a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as concessive and relative clauses ('Although, table and chairs area is still the same however...'). However, grammar and punctuation control is weak throughout the text. There are numerous errors including missing articles ('Kitchen and toilets is only unaltered change'), subject-verb agreement issues ('Kitchen and toilets is', 'there are extra outdoor spaces and have different changes'), and run-on sentences with incorrect punctuation ('Although, table and chairs area is still the same however...'). These frequent errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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