Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23
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 two map illustrate how the college cafe has refurbished from its original design.
Overall, it is evident that there were lots of changes took place such as some new elements were added and removed as well from existing ones. The noticeable feature is that the total area was increased in new cafe plan.
In today's cafe design, the essential elements are added. The significant one is outdoor seating and a barbecue place, which increases the total area of canteen. Furthermore, the take away food and coffee bar are designed at replacemnt of staff dining rooms. Subsequently, the service area is converted to hot meals collection area.Lastly, the Salad bar design at main hall, in front of kitchen.
In contrast, many elements were removed from old design.
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 response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, stopping short at 127 words, which directly impacts the completeness of the task. While the student attempts to highlight several key changes—such as the addition of outdoor seating, a barbecue area, and the conversion of staff dining rooms into take-away food and coffee bar sections—the overview is underdeveloped. The statement that 'the total area was increased' is inaccurate based on the provided plans, as the building footprint remains the same while outdoor space is added. Furthermore, the final paragraph cuts off abruptly ('In contrast, many elements were removed from old design.') without providing the supporting details for those removals. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, warranting a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay displays some basic organization, attempting an overall introduction followed by body details and a brief concluding thought. However, the logical progression is hindered by very short, fragmented paragraphs and sentences. Cohesive devices are used ('Overall', 'Furthermore', 'Subsequently', 'In contrast'), but some are applied mechanically or incorrectly within the context (e.g., 'Subsequently, the service area is converted...'). Paragraphing is poorly handled due to the under-length nature of the response, with single-sentence paragraphs failing to develop distinct ideas properly. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'The two map illustrate', which leads to a disjointed reading experience. This level of organisation aligns with a Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student attempts some task-specific vocabulary, such as 'refurbished', 'essential elements', and 'outdoor seating'. However, the lexical range is limited and repetition occurs. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'The two map illustrate' (instead of maps), 'has refurbished' (instead of has been refurbished), and 'at replacemnt of' (instead of in place of). Additionally, 'Salad bar design at main hall' exhibits incorrect grammatical categorisation of lexical items. While communication is generally maintained despite these errors, the frequent inaccuracies in word formation and collocation prevent the response from achieving a higher band, placing it firmly at a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay features a mix of simple and attempted complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement and article omissions ('The two map', 'the college cafe', 'in new cafe plan', 'at replacemnt'). Passive voice structures are mishandled ('has refurbished' instead of 'has been refurbished'; 'Salad bar design at' instead of 'The salad bar is designed'). Punctuation and word forms show recurring slips that distract the reader, although meaning is usually decipherable. Because errors are frequent and recurrent in basic structures, the performance corresponds to a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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