Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-28
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 plan represents a refreshment area in the higher education institute before and after design.
In the cafe before being redesigned, there was just a bin area and there was a toilet then for dinner just two straight dining tables, in front of this there was a sitting area, then for food and drink, there had a serving area and kitchen. Before it was redesigned, there was some additions in arrangements, adding coffee bar, take away food, hot meal and there was also a salad bar and barbecue with outdoor seating.
The earlier design of cafe, it was just straightforward design with minimal services, after entering the door there is a bin with toilets. Going straight there is a sitting area and then on the right side it has staff dining room, afterwards there is serving area with a kitchen.
Before the reconstruction, the take away food room and coffee bar were added in the place of staff dining rooms, and opposite of the bin area there is a salad bar and on the right side of this there is hot meals area was added and a barbecue is placed on the left side and outdoor space is settled in front of barbecue area.
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 attempts to describe the changes shown in the two maps of the college cafe, but it struggles significantly with spatial logic and accurate reporting of the visual data. While it mentions several key modifications such as the addition of a salad bar, barbecue, and outdoor seating, the description of the layout before and after is confused and difficult to follow. For instance, the student states that before the redesign 'there was some additions in arrangements', which is logically contradictory. Furthermore, there is no clear overall overview highlighting the main general trends, such as the expansion of dining options to the exterior and the replacement of staff rooms with take-away facilities. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, earning a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The organisational structure of the essay is weak. Although the response is broken into paragraphs, the progression of information lacks logical flow and coherence. Sentences within paragraphs often feel disjointed, such as moving abruptly from the bin and toilets to the seating area and serving area without clear spatial signposting. Cohesive devices are used in a very basic or repetitive manner ('Before the reconstruction', 'after entering the door', 'going straight'), and referencing is frequently unclear, making it hard for the reader to track the layout of the cafe. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal logical progression is severely disrupted. This corresponds to Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The lexical range is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic vocabulary and straightforward descriptors (e.g., 'design', 'area', 'room', 'placed', 'added'). There are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'refreshment area in the higher education institute before and after design' and 'for dinner just two straight dining tables', which sound unnatural in this context. Attempts at less common vocabulary are either absent or misused, and spelling/word-choice errors occasionally impede smooth communication. This fits the Band 5.0 descriptor profile.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences predominate, and attempts at more complex structures frequently result in faulty syntax and grammatical errors. Examples include tense confusion ('there had a serving area') and tangled clause structures ('Before it was redesigned, there was some additions in arrangements, adding coffee bar...'). Punctuation is basic, and frequent grammatical errors cause strain and occasional confusion for the reader. However, simple sentences are sometimes accurate, preventing a lower score. This aligns with Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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