Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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)

these pictures show the arrangement of college's cafe before and after the change.

so it clearly shows the changes of cafe that include some new arrangements and change the place of things after redesign.

in the began there is a kitchen that is connected to service area the customers can take food. just after ther is a staff dining into twice rooms further more a big setup for serving food where people can eat food and just in the corner of place a medium toilet after few steps a bin room for wasted material.

in the new cafe service counter changed into hot meals and staff dining changed into take away service and coffee bar and the toilets are on the same place another addition just in front of bin other side a small salad bar for people further more also outdoor sitting with lot of tables also a in corner live baebecue in new cafe also addition of gates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially by outlining some of the main changes between the two plans of the college cafe. However, the information is somewhat mechanical and lacks a fully developed overview. While features such as the kitchen, the dining rooms turned into a take away service and coffee bar, and the addition of the outdoor seating and barbecue are mentioned, the reporting is incomplete and lacks clear comparative language. For instance, the writer notes that the 'service counter changed into hot meals and staff dining changed into take away service', but fails to effectively integrate a clear summary of the overall transformation. To reach a higher band, the response needs to present a more thorough selection of key features and incorporate a cohesive overview highlighting the most significant structural changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation in the response, separating the description of the original layout from the redesigned cafe. However, there is no clear overall progression or effective paragraphing, as the text is divided into dense blocks with informal conversational openings like 'so it clearly shows'. Cohesive devices are very limited, repetitive, and at times inaccurate (e.g., 'in the began', 'just after ther is'). Paragraphing is poorly handled, and referencing within sentences is frequently unclear, making it difficult to follow the spatial relationships between the various features of the cafe. To improve, the writer should use standard paragraph structures—such as an introduction, an overview, and distinct body paragraphs for comparisons—and employ a wider, more accurate range of linking words to guide the reader smoothly through the spatial changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The vocabulary used is quite basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms directly copied or slightly altered from the prompt (e.g., 'kitchen', 'service area', 'tables and chairs'). There are noticeable word choice and word formation errors, such as 'in the began' instead of beginning, 'wasted material' instead of waste or recycling, and 'live baebecue' instead of a barbecue area. Spelling errors are also present, which occasionally causes difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to incorporate a wider variety of precise, less common vocabulary suited to describing spatial changes and architectural features, such as 'relocated', 'converted', 'extended', and 'amenities'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting mostly of simple sentences strung together with coordinating conjunctions or run-on structures. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles (e.g., 'before and after change'), incorrect prepositions (e.g., 'on the same place' instead of in the same place), and faulty verb forms (e.g., 'service counter changed' missing auxiliary or tense markers). Complex sentence attempts are virtually absent, and punctuation is largely neglected, resulting in long, breathless sentences. These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader. To progress, the writer must focus on foundational grammar, including subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, accurate tense control, and the incorporation of complex sentence forms with appropriate punctuation.

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.