Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The diagram illustrates the college cafe after it redesigned and how it look earlier.
Overall, the cafe area is expanded with the help of barbecue station and outdoor seating.
The cafe was quit simple before it was redesigned as kitchen was at top-left corner, where serving area is presnt for all kind of food and drink. The tables and chairs was present at the centre of a cafe with 2 staff dining room right above it. The bin is situated at the right side of the cafe and Toilets facilities was situated on bottom-right corner of a cafe.
Cafe at present provide a whole level of different look, as take away food counter and coffee bar is made in place of staff dining rooms. The bins is replaced by recycling bins and opposite to it a salad bar is opened. The barbecue station is constructed at right out the gate of salad bar with outdoor seating and the location of toilets remains the same.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The student attempts to address the task by comparing the college cafe before and after its redesign. An overview is provided, noting that the area expanded with a barbecue station and outdoor seating. Key features such as the kitchen, toilets, and former staff dining rooms are mentioned, alongside current additions like the salad bar and coffee bar. However, there are notable inaccuracies and omissions in describing the spatial layout and specific transformations. For example, the student states that the cafe area expanded 'with the help of barbecue station and outdoor seating,' whereas the main building footprint largely remains the same, with outdoor features added externally. Furthermore, some descriptions lack precision, such as stating the bins were replaced by recycling bins while missing other structural details. Because of these inaccuracies and underdeveloped comparisons, the response meets the criteria for Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organised into four paragraphs, moving from an introduction to an overview, a description of the past layout, and finally the current layout. However, logical progression is hindered by awkward transitions and mechanical cohesive devices. For instance, the phrase 'Cafe at present provide a whole level of different look' is abrupt and unidiomatic. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the paragraphing, while present, does not effectively group the comparisons of specific areas between the past and present plans. Overall organisation is simplistic, placing the text firmly in the Band 5.5 category.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with several word choice errors and non-standard collocations. Examples include 'it redesigned' instead of 'it was redesigned', 'quit simple' instead of 'quite simple', and 'Toilets facilities was situated' where grammatical and lexical accuracy fail. Less common lexical items are attempted ('constructed', 'expansion'), but frequent inaccuracies in word form and spelling ('presnt') restrict the range. The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the basic message, corresponding to a Band 5.0 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic active forms. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The tables and chairs was present', 'The bins is replaced'), tense confusion ('after it redesigned and how it look earlier'), and missing articles ('at top-left corner'). Complex structures are rarely attempted, and when they are, they contain errors that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. These persistent inaccuracies place this criterion at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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