Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-27

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 blueprint of updated college café has the same kitchen area as before but they have made changes in food counters means before renovation the serving area is combined, which means it includes all meals at one place but now after redesigning the cafe, there are different bars or sections of meals divided like hot meals are near kitchen then there's salad bar at one side near the tables and chairs moreover there's barbecue setup near the outdoor seating unlike before. In the middle there are tables and chairs like before renovation. There's also a separate section of coffee bar and take away food section which was not present before renovation at college cafe. Near the table and chairs there's proper and more space given to recycling bins unlike before it was just a bin placed near tables and chairs area and lastly there's toilets which is placed near recycling bins like before redesigning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response covers the main changes between the two plans, noting the modifications to the kitchen/serving counters, the addition of the salad bar, outdoor seating, and barbecue, as well as the coffee bar and takeaway food sections replacing the staff dining rooms. However, the report lacks an overview paragraph, which is an essential requirement for a Band 6 or higher in Academic Task 1. Furthermore, the information is presented in a somewhat disjointed manner without a clear, structured progression. While the key features are identified, the lack of an overall summary and overview holds the score down.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The text suffers significantly from a lack of paragraphing; it consists of one long, continuous block of text instead of distinct paragraphs for the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices are weak and repetitive, relying heavily on informal connectors like 'means', 'moreover', and 'and lastly'. Sentences run into one another without proper punctuation or logical segmentation, creating a 'run-on' effect that hinders the flow of reading. There is no clear organizational structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is quite basic and repetitive, with phrases like 'made changes', 'different bars', and 'places'. There are awkward lexical choices and phrasing, such as 'blueprint of updated college café' instead of 'plans of the redesigned college café'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary ('redesigned', 'recycling bins', 'outdoor seating'), but overall the range is limited and adequate only for basic communication. Spelling and word choice errors do not severely impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on a string of long, coordinate clauses linked by conjunctions rather than a controlled mix of simple and complex sentences. There are notable grammatical inaccuracies and punctuation errors, particularly run-on sentences with missing full stops or commas (e.g., '...hot meals are near kitchen then there's salad bar at one side near the tables and chairs moreover there's...'). Articles and prepositions are also misused or omitted in places (e.g., 'near kitchen', 'toilets which is placed'). Control over complex structures is weak.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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