Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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 map displays a college cafe renovation how it looks now and how it looked before.

Overall,cafe was expanded by adding some spots including outdoor seating,barbecue,salad bar.Although,some points was reconstructed by new ones.

Firstly,on the top left, serving area was replaced by hot meals while, kitchen remained unchange.Afterwards, in hall, on the west concern,a new area was added by the name of salad bar ,on the other hand, on the right side remained same.In the front of entrance,Staff dining rooms was shifted by take away food and coffee bar.

Finally,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main purpose as a renovation and mention several relevant changes, including the new outdoor seating, barbecue and salad bar, as well as the replacement of the serving area with a hot-meals counter and the former staff rooms with takeaway food and a coffee bar. However, the report is incomplete: it ends with “Finally,” and does not describe the outdoor area, recycling bins, toilets, or the central seating area. The overview is also vague (“some points was reconstructed”) and does not clearly summarise the main pattern of change. The response is below the required 150 words, so there is not enough detail to cover the plans adequately. Develop a complete overview and report the key changes and features systematically.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, with an opening, an overview, and a paragraph beginning “Firstly”; this gives the reader some sense of sequence. However, the progression is not sustained: the response stops at “Finally,” without completing the final point, and the changes are not grouped or presented in a clear overall order. Linking expressions such as “Although,” “Afterwards,” and “on the other hand” are used awkwardly or do not show a clear contrast, making relationships between details difficult to follow. Improve cohesion by using a simple structure: introduction, overview, then paragraphs describing the interior changes and the new outdoor facilities. Use fewer, more precise linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a plan, including “renovation,” “replaced,” “remained,” “outdoor seating,” and “barbecue.” These choices show an attempt to use task-specific language rather than relying only on basic words. However, the range is limited, and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “some spots,” “west concern,” and “in the front of entrance.” “Reconstructed by new ones” also does not clearly express that facilities were replaced or repurposed. Choose precise location and change vocabulary, for example, “along the western wall” and “was converted into.” This would make the description clearer and more suitable for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to combine ideas in longer sentences, but control is inconsistent and errors sometimes make the relationships between details unclear. For example, “Overall,cafe was expanded” lacks an article, while “some points was reconstructed” has subject–verb disagreement and an unclear passive construction. In “kitchen remained unchange,” the verb form is incorrect, and “Staff dining rooms was shifted” has a plural subject with a singular verb. Punctuation and spacing are also unreliable, particularly around commas and sentence openings. Most sentences follow a simple pattern, and the attempted complex links are often faulty. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and passive forms, and check articles, agreement, and punctuation before submitting.

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