Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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 maps illustrate the data about a college cafe before it was redesigned and below it looks now.

Overall, it is evident that there is a facility of outdoor seating area after redesign. Salar bar and babecue are also added in the college cafe after redesigned.

Cafe before redesign, there was a kichen on north west side, while the servivg area at the frnt of the kichen. There were two staff dining roome at the centre of the cafe. There was a huge area for the tables and chairs, while bin area was also held in east side of the cafe.There was also a facility of a toilets on south east side of the cafe.

After redesign, serving area is placed by the hot meals, while there is no changes of kitchen, table and chairs and toilets areas. There is a facilily of a salad bar area on west side of the cafe. There are barbecue and outdoor seating area is added this time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important changes, including the new outdoor seating, salad bar and barbecue, and correctly note that the kitchen, central tables and toilets remain. However, the report only partially covers the plans: it omits the new take-away food and coffee-bar sections, and does not explain that the former staff dining rooms were replaced by them. The overview mentions additions but does not summarise the broader redesign, such as the changed food-service facilities and the recycling bins replacing the bin. Some locations are reported accurately, but the serving area is described as being “at the front” of the kitchen rather than along its southern boundary. Select the main changes more fully and compare the two layouts explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the earlier and current layouts. This gives the reader a basic chronological progression, and phrases such as “while” and “After redesign” help signal comparison. However, the progression within the description is limited, and several details are presented as a list rather than grouped by area or type of change. The transition from the old layout to the new one is abrupt, while “there is no changes” makes the comparison difficult to follow. Some linking is repetitive, especially the repeated use of “there was” and “there is.” Group the changes—for example, service areas, facilities, and outdoor space—and use clear references to the former and current plans.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing plans, including “north west side,” “centre,” “east side,” “salad bar,” and “outdoor seating.” These terms help communicate the general locations and changes. However, the range is limited and several spelling errors make key details less clear, such as “Salar,” “babecue,” “kichen,” and “servivg.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “a huge area for the tables and chairs” and “a facility of a toilets” do not describe the plan naturally. Use accurate labels from the diagram and more precise change vocabulary, such as “was replaced by,” “was converted into,” and “was added along the western wall.” Proofreading spelling would also improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a few longer structures, including the contrast in “There was a huge area for the tables and chairs, while bin area was also held in east side.” However, sentence patterns are mostly simple and several errors recur, sometimes making relationships unclear. For example, “Cafe before redesign, there was a kichen” lacks a grammatical subject construction, and “After redesign, serving area is placed by the hot meals” uses an unclear tense and passive form. Agreement is also faulty in “there is no changes,” while articles and plurals are inconsistent in “a facility of a toilets.” Use past tense for the former plan and present tense for the current one, and practise complete comparison sentences with accurate articles and agreement.

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