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 plans illustrate the changes made to a college cafe before and after it was renovated.

Overall, cafe underwent several substantial changes after redesign. Staff dining rooms were converted into take away food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar and a barbecue section were added into the college cafe. An outdoor seating arrangement was also added for the students and staff.

After renovation, kitchen and toilets remained unchanged. Tables and chairs also remained in same area. Bin was replaced by the recycling bin, while serving area for food and beverages was changed into hot meals section.

After the redesign, two staff dining rooms converted into a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar was also introduced into the left- hand side of tables and chairs area. An outdoor seating area was also created for the students and staff, with a barbecue located at the left-hand side. Cafe was converted into both indoor and outdoor eating spaces after redesign.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of the outdoor area, the coffee bar, and the salad bar. However, the report is somewhat repetitive, as the second and fourth paragraphs cover similar information, leading to a lack of clear progression. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more analytical. The summary of changes is accurate, but the structure prevents it from reaching a higher band as it feels like a list of observations rather than a cohesive report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetition. The information provided in the second paragraph is largely restated in the fourth paragraph, which disrupts the progression of the report. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'After renovation' and 'After the redesign', but they are used in a somewhat mechanical way. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of distinct grouping of information (e.g., separating structural changes from functional changes) makes the overall structure feel less professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'renovated', 'substantial changes', and 'converted'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'take away food area' (should be 'takeaway food area') and 'left- hand side of tables and chairs area'. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. More sophisticated synonyms for 'changed' or 'added' would improve the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with article usage, such as 'Bin was replaced by the recycling bin' (should be 'The bin was replaced by a recycling bin') and 'Cafe was converted' (should be 'The cafe was converted'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The control of grammar is inconsistent, and the sentence structures, while varied, are not always error-free.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.