Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-03

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.

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Overall, the café has been modernised to provide a wider variety of food and dining options. While the kitchen and toilets have remained in their original locations, the serving area and staff dining rooms have been replaced by several specialised food counters, and new outdoor seating has been introduced.

Before the renovation, all food and drinks were served from a single serving area connected to the kitchen. There were also two staff dining rooms in the centre of the café. Most of the remaining space was occupied by tables and chairs, while the toilets and a single bin were located in the bottom-right corner.

Following the redesign, the central staff rooms were removed and replaced with separate takeaway food and coffee bar counters. Inside the kitchen, a dedicated hot meals section was added, while a salad bar and a barbecue area were introduced along the left-hand side of the café. Furthermore, recycling bins replaced the original bin near the entrance. The most significant addition is an outdoor seating area at the front of the café, providing customers with extra space to dine. Overall, the new layout offers greater convenience, more food choices, and improved facilities for visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main changes and successfully highlighted key features such as the removal of the staff rooms, the addition of food counters, and the new outdoor seating. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is logical and well-supported by specific details from the diagrams. You have successfully identified the most significant changes, which demonstrates a strong ability to select and report relevant information. The response is well-structured and fulfills the requirements of an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from an overview to specific details. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the 'before' and 'after' states, which helps the reader follow the changes easily. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'Following the redesign', 'Furthermore', and 'The most significant addition' are used naturally to link ideas and create a smooth flow. The information is presented in a coherent manner, and there is a clear sense of progression throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing diagrams and processes, such as 'modernised', 'specialised', 'dedicated', and 'convenience'. The language is precise and fits the context well. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is sufficiently varied to describe the changes without being repetitive. The use of terms like 'original locations' and 'remaining space' shows a good command of descriptive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While the kitchen and toilets have remained...'). Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses—switching between past and present to describe the changes—is handled correctly and consistently throughout the report.

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