Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04
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 5.5)
The two layouts illustrate the changes in the college cafe before the redevelopment and how it looks now.
Overall, it can be seen that the cafe has become more modernized and expanded. The cafe has also introduced the concept of open roof seating area. It can also be observed that specialized counters has been made for individual to enjoy meal.
In earlier design, there was only one entrance to enter the cafe, but now it has increased to three entrance. The serving area is replaced with the hot meals so student can have hot beverages. A new counter has been added as salad bar located at the west wall of the cafe. The staff dining area is now been converted and splits into two different stall known as take away food, to manage in rush hours and Coffee bar so that student don't have to wait long for just a coffee.
The bin is now been expanded and renamed as Recycling bins. The cafe has also included Barbecue counter on the student demand so that individual can have italian food. The outdoor seating area has also been introduced in front of the Barbecue so that people can enjoy nature at the same time. Whereas, existing Kitchen, toilets and tables and chairs have remained unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the new entrances, seating areas, and counters. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the description of the 'Barbecue counter' as a place for 'Italian food' is a misinterpretation of the visual data, which is a significant error in reporting. While the overview identifies the main trends of modernization and expansion, the report lacks a clear, comparative summary of the spatial layout changes. The response would benefit from more precise reporting of the locations and a more accurate interpretation of the provided labels.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different aspects of the redesign. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In earlier design', 'now', and 'Whereas', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'The bin is now been expanded', where the connection to the previous paragraph is weak. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, but the flow could be improved with more sophisticated linking phrases.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with attempts to use topic-specific terms like 'redevelopment', 'modernized', and 'specialized counters'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'individual to enjoy meal' (should be 'individuals to enjoy meals') and 'manage in rush hours'. The use of 'Italian food' is an inaccurate interpretation of the visual information provided. To reach a higher band, you should focus on more precise collocations and ensure that your vocabulary accurately reflects the data presented in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'specialized counters has been made' (subject-verb agreement), 'three entrance' (pluralization), and 'The bin is now been expanded' (incorrect verb tense/passive voice). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to impact the overall accuracy. Increasing the number of error-free sentences and focusing on consistent verb tense usage would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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