Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-05

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 diagrams illustrate the college cafe before it was renovated and how it looks now.

Overall, cafe before redesigned the kitchen was same before and after renovated, before renovated, take away food and coffee bar were replaced with staff dining rooms, also there were outdoor seating area in present.

In this diagram, the cafe before redesign it was same before and after refurbished, Therefore, in the place of serving area there were hot meals, In addition to this, in the middle of the cafe there was tables and the chairs, it was same before the renovated.

On the other hand, staff dining rooms were replaced with take away food and coffee bar in present, However, in the right side of the cafe there was bin, but it replaced with recycling bins, Moreover, toilets were in the same location in the present respectively, on the left side of the cafe there was a salad bar and in their outer side there was a barbecue spot. Before renovated, outside of the cafe there was outdoor seating area for the students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response presents an overview with some information about the changes in the college cafe, but it addresses the task only partially. While the student attempts to highlight several key features, such as the replacement of the staff dining rooms with a take away food section and a coffee bar, and the addition of a salad bar and outdoor seating, the expression is frequently confusing and contradictory. For instance, sentences like 'cafe before redesigned the kitchen was same before and after renovated' contain unclear and repetitive statements that obscure the intended comparisons. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to select and report the main features more clearly and systematically, ensuring all comparisons between the past and present layouts are logical and accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is some basic organisation in the response, but it lacks a clear overall progression. The information is grouped into paragraphs, yet the sequencing of ideas feels disjointed and repetitive. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as the abrupt transitions using 'In this diagram' and 'On the other hand', which do not establish clear logical relationships between the sentences. Pronoun referencing and substitution are also mishandled, making it difficult to follow the flow of information. To improve, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive ties more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a distinct, logically developed focus.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, with frequent misuse of terms and awkward phrasing that impacts readability. Words and phrases like 'before renovated' (instead of 'before renovation') and 'barbecue spot' reflect a restricted lexical range. There are noticeable errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'take away food and coffee bar were replaced with staff dining rooms' which reverses the actual chronological change shown in the diagrams. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand their vocabulary range, use precise terms related to spatial changes, and ensure correct word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple or awkwardly concatenated clauses. Attempts at complex structures are frequently faulty, leading to frequent errors in grammar, prepositions, and verb tenses. Examples include 'cafe before redesigned', 'there was tables and the chairs', and missing articles throughout the text. These persistent errors cause noticeable difficulty for the reader and obscure the meaning of several sentences. To progress, the writer needs to practice forming accurate complex sentences, maintain correct tense consistency when describing past and present layouts, and pay closer attention to articles and prepositions.

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

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