Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 4.5)

The plans below shows us a college before it was redesigned and it looks beautiful

firstly before redesigned it has not a barbecue now it has and also now it has a salad bar

The Kitchen has seperated and the meal area is also different. Old one has serving area all food and drink. The new one has a sitting area outside it looks good. old cafe has a staff dining room but in the new there's no staff dining room

The coffee bar is separated and take away food is also separated

Now, the Bin is recycled and in older one the bin is wasted . Boths area is looking same .

The Older one has a One Inn gate and one out gate but In redesigned there is two inn gates and two out gates .

After redesigned there are many place for sitting out side . And older one has not

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several genuine changes, including the addition of a salad bar, outdoor seating and a barbecue, and the removal of the staff dining rooms. However, the report only partially summarises the plans: it gives little sense of the overall layout or which features stayed the same, such as the kitchen, central tables and chairs, and toilets. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, the kitchen has not been separated, and the old bin has been replaced by recycling bins rather than being “recycled.” The comparison of entrances is also misread: the plans show an entrance on the east wall before and after, with new doors added on the south for outdoor seating. A clearer overview and more accurate selection of key changes would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response follows a basic before-and-after sequence and uses simple linking words such as “firstly,” “also,” and “but,” so the reader can identify some comparisons. However, ideas are not arranged into clear paragraphs, and the progression is difficult to follow. The opening comment that the redesign “looks beautiful” is subjective and does not help organise the description. Several points are placed together without clear relationships, while “Boths area is looking same” is vague and does not specify what remained unchanged. Group the information into an overview and focused comparisons of the interior, facilities and outdoor area. Use clear references such as “the former staff rooms” and “the new southern doors” to make connections easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary from the plans, including “salad bar,” “staff dining room,” “serving area” and “outdoor seating,” which helps communicate the main subject. However, the range is basic and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning unclear. “The Bin is recycled” confuses the container with the recycling facility, while “the bin is wasted” does not describe the change shown. Phrases such as “inn gate” and “sitting area outside” are also imprecise for this plan. Aim to use accurate terms for map features and changes, such as “entrance,” “recycling bins,” “replaced by” and “added.” Check spelling, including “separated,” and avoid subjective descriptions such as “beautiful.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response mainly uses short, simple statements, with a few attempts to connect ideas using “but” and “and.” This gives some basic sentence variety, but control is inconsistent and errors frequently affect clarity. For example, “The plans below shows” has subject–verb disagreement, and “before redesigned it has not a barbecue” has an incomplete and inaccurate verb construction. Tense shifts between “has,” “has not” and “there are” also make the time comparison unclear. Articles and plurals are unreliable in phrases such as “a staff dining room” and “many place.” Practise consistent past and present forms for comparing the plans, and build accurate comparative sentences, for example, “The former café had no outdoor seating, whereas the redesigned café has an outdoor area.”

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.