Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-21

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 7.5)

The two plans illustrate the changes that took place in the design of a college café before and after its redesign.

Overall, the café became more developed, with separate facilities for different types of food and drink and an increase in seating space through the addition of an outdoor seating area. However, the kitchen and toilets remained in the same locations.

Before the redesign, the kitchen and a serving area for all food and drinks were located in the northern part of the café. Next to the serving area, there were two staff dining rooms. Most of the remaining indoor space contained tables and chairs, while the toilets were situated in the south-eastern corner and a bin was located on the eastern side.

After the redesign, several major changes were made. The staff dining rooms were replaced by a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. The original serving area was also divided into separate facilities, with hot meals served near the kitchen and a salad bar added on the western side. In addition, the seating area was extended outdoors, with tables and chairs and a barbecue facility. A new entrance was also added at the southern side of the café. Finally, the original bin was replaced by recycling bins, while the kitchen and toilets remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the changes shown in the two plans. The overview accurately highlights the main developments, such as the creation of separate facilities for food and drink and the addition of outdoor seating, while also noting elements that remained unchanged. Key features, including the relocation of the staff dining rooms into a takeaway area and coffee bar, the introduction of a salad bar, and the addition of a barbecue and outdoor seating area, are reported accurately and supported by details from the visual data. The response demonstrates a fully developed understanding of the prompt and satisfies all requirements for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a clear and logical organisation from start to finish. Information is well-sequenced, beginning with an introductory paragraph, followed by a strong overview, a detailed description of the original layout, and finally the post-redesign changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the task. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Before the redesign', 'After the redesign', and 'In addition' are managed effectively to guide the reader smoothly through the spatial comparison without being obtrusive or repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and functional phrases are used effectively, such as 'redesigned', 'separate facilities', 'relocated', and 'unaffected' (or 'remained unchanged'). Word choices are precise, accurately describing physical changes (e.g., 'replaced', 'divided into separate facilities', 'extended outdoors'). There are virtually no lexical errors or awkward collocations, enabling the message to be communicated fluently and naturally throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully blending simple and complex sentences. The student demonstrates good control over complex clauses, evident in structures such as 'with separate facilities for different types of food and drink and an increase in seating space through the addition of an outdoor seating area.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Grammar and syntax do not impede communication at any point, reflecting a high level of grammatical accuracy appropriate for a Band 8 score.

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