Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

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 an open-roof seating area. It can also be observed that specialized counters have been made for individuals to enjoy meals.

In the earlier design, there was only one entrance to enter the cafe, but now it has increased to three entrances. The serving area is replaced with the hot meals so students can have hot beverages. A new counter has been added as a salad bar located at the west wall of the cafe. The staff dining area has now been converted and split into two different stalls known as takeaway food, to manage in rush hours, and a coffee bar so that students don't have to wait long for just a coffee.

The bin has now been expanded and renamed as recycling bins. The cafe has also included a barbecue counter at the students demand so that individuals can have Italian food. The outdoor seating area has also been introduced in front of the barbecue counter so that people can enjoy nature at the same time. Whereas the existing kitchen area, toilets, and tables and chairs have remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the increased number of entrances, the new salad bar, and the outdoor seating area. You also correctly noted the areas that remained unchanged. However, the report lacks a clear, data-driven overview of the scale of change. For instance, you mention 'modernized' and 'expanded' but do not quantify these changes effectively. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly inaccurate, such as stating the barbecue counter was added 'at the students demand'—this information is not provided in the visual prompt and should be avoided. To improve, focus strictly on the visual data provided and ensure your overview highlights the most significant transformations clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the cafe layout. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In the earlier design' and 'Whereas', to transition between ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some sentences feel disjointed. For example, the transition between the bin expansion and the barbecue counter is abrupt. To reach a higher band, try to integrate your sentences more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the comparison of the two plans.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'specialized counters', and 'converted'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'The serving area is replaced with the hot meals' is awkward; it would be more natural to say 'The serving area was replaced by a hot meal counter'. Additionally, 'at the students demand' is an unnecessary addition that does not reflect the visual data. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology to describe spatial changes and avoid adding external information not present in the diagrams.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'there was only one entrance to enter the cafe' (redundant) and 'at the students demand' (missing apostrophe). Furthermore, the phrase 'to manage in rush hours' is slightly ungrammatical and would be better phrased as 'to manage rush-hour demand'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions to enhance the accuracy of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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