Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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 7.0)

he maps illustrate a college cafe before redesign and its current appearance.

Overall, the cafe has undergone substantial modifications with most areas being replaced with modern amenities.

In the past, there was a kitchen at the top of the building with the serving area in proximity, which served all food and drinks. In the main area, there were only tables and chairs, which were located in the center. Furthermore, above the main area, two staff dining rooms were featured. To its right, a bin stood between the entrance to the cafe at the top and toilets at the bottom.

Currently, a few places have been replaced and some amenities have been added. The serving room has been transformed into an area which provides hot meals. As regards rooms, where staff used to eat have been converted into an area, where people can take away their food and a coffee bar. Moreover, the bin has been modernized into a recycling bin. Adjacent to it, a salad bar has been positioned. An outdoor seating area has been added in the lower part of the cafe including five tables and 26 chairs as well as a new barbeque on the right side. Meanwhile, only the kitchen, tables with chairs in the center of the building, and toilets remain unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the changes shown in the two maps of the college cafe. An effective overview is included, highlighting that the cafe has undergone substantial modifications. The response reports the main features accurately, such as the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a takeaway food area and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, outdoor seating, and a barbecue, as well as the retention of the kitchen, toilets, and central seating. The comparisons between the past and present layouts are clear and well-grounded in the visual data. The inclusion of specific details like tables and chairs is well handled, supporting a strong performance in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from an introductory overview to the past layout, followed by the current layout and features. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, body details, and concluding comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'In the past', 'Currently', 'Moreover', and 'Meanwhile' are utilized effectively to guide the reader through the spatial changes. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional transitional links could be smoother. Overall, the logical sequencing and clear structural progression meet the requirements for a strong band score in this category.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for describing spatial changes and architectural transformations, using terms such as 'substantial modifications', 'amenities', 'converted', 'modernized', and 'adjacent'. There are occasional minor lexical or collocational awkwardnesses, such as 'the serving room' instead of 'serving area' or 'counter', and 'modernized into a recycling bin' where 'replaced' or 'upgraded' might be more precise. However, the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey precise meanings, and spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and prepositional phrases (e.g., 'where staff used to eat have been converted into an area', 'An outdoor seating area has been added... including five tables and 26 chairs'). The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate. There is a minor grammatical slip in agreement with 'As regards rooms, where staff used to eat have been converted...', where the subject-verb agreement is slightly clumsy. Nevertheless, punctuation and grammar are handled with a high degree of control, allowing for smooth and uninterrupted reading.

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