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)
These pictures represent, the designs of college cafe before and after, further we would compare the changes which has been done between both the pictures.
Overall, it can be noticed that the sitting area has been expanded, outdoor sitting has been introduced to cafe, which covers more area now. Also it is noticeable that many areas are changed such as bins area and staff dinning rooms.
In the first picture, it is seen that there is a small area for bin but after redesign the area get bigger and changes the name to recycling bin , also their is new opening of salad bar in the west side which area was empty before, the staff dining rooms are changed to take aways and a coffee bar. Serving area is changed into only hot meals section.
Tables and chairs section remains same but, it got extended to the south zone and canteen now has outdoor sitting available, with the Barbecue option as well.
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 expansion of the seating area and the introduction of new facilities like the salad bar and outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. The introduction is somewhat informal and repetitive, and the description of changes is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'many areas are changed'). While the key features are identified, the comparison could be more structured to highlight the transformation more effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview synthesizes the most significant changes rather than just listing them, and maintain a more formal, objective tone throughout the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'In the first picture' and 'Also it is noticeable' are used to transition, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'which area was empty before,' which creates a slightly awkward sentence structure. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns and references clearly point to their antecedents would enhance the overall cohesion of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes to the cafe layout. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'recycling bin,' 'salad bar,' and 'take aways.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'sitting area' instead of 'seating area' and 'changes the name to' instead of 'was repurposed as.' To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to spatial changes and facility descriptions, and avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, including punctuation issues (e.g., unnecessary commas after 'represent' and 'before'), subject-verb agreement errors ('the area get bigger'), and awkward phrasing ('there is new opening of'). The use of articles and prepositions is also inconsistent. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence construction, consistent verb tense usage, and proofreading for basic punctuation would lead to significant improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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