Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-30

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 6.5)

This map ilustrates the design of a college cafe which is recently modified with new features. It's observed that the new design has five modifications which has improved the overall layout of the cafeteria.

Previously, there was a single serving area for all kinds of food and drink but now that area only serves hot meals. In contrast, the prior staff dining rooms have changed into take away food section and coffee bar.

In the updated design, a salad bar have built where tables and chair are placed. The new cafe design also has a relaxing outdoor seating with a barbecue corner which previously wasn't available.

However, the new layout has recycling bins and toilets in the same location as before. In general, the new design of the college cafeteria is much improved and provides better spacing. With an addition of outdoor space, customers can have a relaxing spot to sit and unwind which indirectly increases the revenue of cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the new serving areas, the salad bar, and the outdoor seating. You also correctly noted the areas that remained unchanged. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. While you mention that the layout has improved, a more analytical summary highlighting the shift from a single serving area to specialized sections would have been more effective. The inclusion of personal speculation about revenue is unnecessary for an academic report, as the task requires you to focus strictly on the provided visual information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from the general introduction to specific changes and finally to unchanged elements. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the cafe. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast' and 'However', to link ideas. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices further and ensure that the transition between sentences feels more natural. Some of the referencing is slightly mechanical, but the overall structure is easy to follow and the information is presented in a coherent manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modifications', 'layout', and 'specialized' (implied). There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'which is recently modified' instead of 'which has recently been modified'. Additionally, 'salad bar have built' contains a grammatical error that affects the lexical presentation. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe spatial changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', or 'expanded', rather than relying on simpler verbs like 'changed' or 'built'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your writing shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('a salad bar have built', 'five modifications which has improved'). There are also minor errors in tense usage, such as 'which is recently modified' instead of 'which has recently been modified'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy significantly.

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