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 first picture shows the old design of the college cafe. In this case, all you need to eat must be obtained from the serving area. This is not user-friendly because it may be crowded with students and teachers at the same time. One has to wait in a long queue to get a meal.

In the second picture, the new design of the cafe has been introduced. In this scenario, everything seems to be properly organized. Students and staff can get their intended food from the exact point without waiting in a queue. The outdoor area is very pleasant for those who love it, and vice versa. The coffee bar is located at a side point. Students are likely to sit there and enjoy their coffee either alone or with a classmate. Those who are not interested in sitting there can get food from the takeaway area. It is a very sound arrangement for a cafe.

Comparing the two designs, I firmly believe that the sales at the new design will be higher than the design before renovation, for it is more customer-friendly. The older design can make students and staff feel suffocated if they are not comfortable in crowded areas. Additionally, this new design creates a flow of people circulating here and there, which gives the cafe a better way to grow. Therefore, the latter design is sound convenient to everybody.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response fails to properly address the requirements of Academic Writing Task 1. Instead of summarizing the visual information objectively, reporting main features, and making relevant comparisons, the writer provides subjective commentary and speculation (e.g., "I firmly believe that the sales at the new design will be higher..." and "It is a very sound arrangement"). Furthermore, the student neglects to report key structural changes visible on the plans, such as the addition of the salad bar, the replacement of staff dining rooms with a takeaway area and coffee bar, the new outdoor seating, and the barbecue area. Because the response reads more like an opinion piece on a proposal rather than a factual summary of a before-and-after architectural plan, the task achievement is severely compromised.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is divided into three paragraphs, moving from an introductory description of the old design to the new design, and finally a concluding comparison. However, the logical progression is hindered by the lack of objective reporting and clear spatial referencing (e.g., using vague terms like "this scenario" or "a side point"). Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes repetitive. While paragraphing is attempted, the overall organizational structure lacks the academic cohesion expected in a data or diagram summary, resulting in a somewhat disjointed flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive (e.g., "picture," "design," "food," "area"). There are also awkward word choices and phrasing, such as "all you need to eat must be obtained" and "sound convenient to everybody." The student attempts some descriptive phrases like "user-friendly" and "properly organized," but lacks the precise lexical range required to discuss architectural layouts, spatial arrangements, and specific features depicted on the plans (such as counters, zoning, or amenities).

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and relative clauses ("Students who are not interested in sitting there can get food..."). However, there are notable grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout, including "sales at the new design will be higher than the design before renovation" (faulty comparison) and "sound convenient" instead of "sounds convenient" or "is convenient." Punctuation is generally acceptable, and communication is not entirely impeded, but grammatical control is inconsistent.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.