Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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 building below shows how the colllege cafe looked before it was constructed and after it was reconstructed.

Before it was constructed there was no developed places like outdoor seating was not included in the plan also barbecue, salad bar. hot meals , take away food , cofee bar but after construction all this plan was included.

The structure before construction was just kitchen, serving areas for all kinds of food and drink, staff dinning rooms, table and chair,toilets, bin. it also had similar places like kitchen , table and chairs, toilets, and bins. after it was redesigned but they made it well structured and included more areas in the building which made the building more planned and beautiful. a major improvement was that after it was redesigned they had many connecting door which wull help for more ventilation. another important was this outdoor seating which was included for relaxing and it can also be used as sitting room. therefore, tye redesigned structure is more conducive than old building and this is a great development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task only partially, presenting some key features of the two plans while missing a clear overview. The writer attempts to compare the college cafe before and after redesign, noting the addition of amenities like the salad bar, hot meals counter, and outdoor seating. However, the details provided are limited and somewhat repetitive, and the overall description lacks a clear summary of the most significant spatial changes. The position and progression of information are not always clear, with ideas remaining under-developed. To reach a higher level, the response should present a clear introductory overview of the main overall changes and provide a more fully developed, structured comparison of specific areas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The organisation of the text shows some structure, but there is no clear overall progression. The response is divided into paragraphs, but the internal logical flow is disrupted by abrupt shifts between details and vague generalisations. Cohesive devices are used minimally and sometimes inaccurately, such as the repetitive use of 'after it was redesigned' and weak transitional phrases like 'therefore, tye redesigned structure'. Referencing is also unclear in places, making it difficult to follow the relationships between ideas. To improve coherence and cohesion, the writer needs to group related information logically, use a wider range of accurate cohesive devices to connect sentences smoothly, and ensure paragraphing clearly separates the introduction, body details, and overview.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task, with frequent reliance on basic and repetitive terms such as 'constructed', 'reconstructed', 'places', and 'building'. There are noticeable lexical errors, including word form and word choice issues such as 'colllege' (spelling), 'developed places like outdoor seating was not included' (awkward phrasing), and 'cofee bar'. While the student attempts to name some specific features from the visual data, the overall range lacks precision and variety. To achieve a higher band, the writer must expand their lexical range by incorporating precise, less common vocabulary related to maps and architectural changes, and by eliminating basic spelling and word choice errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer uses a very limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic coordination. Attempts at more complex structures are often faulty, leading to run-on sentences and grammatical awkwardness, such as 'Before it was constructed there was no developed places like outdoor seating was not included in the plan also barbecue...'. There are frequent errors in grammar, including subject-verb agreement ('places... was'), missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and punctuation issues. These frequent errors can cause some difficulty and hesitation for the reader. To improve, the writer should practice forming accurate complex sentences with subordinate clauses and pay closer attention to basic grammatical rules such as agreement and punctuation.

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

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