Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05
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 illustrations represents that how college cafe was look at in the past and how it designed after the renovation.
Overall, the area for cafe is look as similar as it was in the past.Therefore, at present it expanded the area for outdoor seating and added few more facilities in cafe.
The main area for cafe is in rectange shape plus on the left side of structure there is kichen as same as before in the past there was only one serving area for food and drinks. Due to, at present only Hot food are serve in this location. Although on the righ there were two dining rooms for staffand it changed to one room converted to takeout food and other is a coffee bar.
While there is no change in toielts. Bin are upgraded to recycling bins. On the left side there is salald bar at presend and in the middle there is table and chairs for students. Consequently outside seating area have five tables and chairs. On the left side there is barbecue furthermore, outside there is two door to excess the entry and exit for the main structure.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a basic overview of the changes, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. While you identify some key features, such as the kitchen and the dining areas, the description is often vague or inaccurate (e.g., stating the kitchen is 'as same as before' when the layout has clearly changed). The summary of the outdoor area is also somewhat confusing. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the 'before' and 'after' states and focus on the most significant structural changes rather than listing every minor detail. The overview is present but lacks a clear synthesis of the overall transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. For example, 'Therefore' is used incorrectly in the second paragraph, and 'Due to' is used as a sentence starter without a following clause. There are also issues with referencing; it is sometimes unclear which part of the cafe you are referring to. To improve, focus on using transition words that logically connect your ideas rather than just placing them at the start of sentences. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as one for the interior and one for the exterior.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'area', 'place', and 'change'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'rectange', 'kichen', 'toielts', 'salald', and 'presend', which distract the reader. Additionally, word choice is often imprecise, such as 'excess the entry' instead of 'access the entrance'. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'renovated', 'transformed', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and ensure your spelling is accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('illustrations represents', 'cafe is look'), incorrect verb tenses, and missing articles. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'The two illustrations represents that how college cafe was look at in the past'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, before attempting more complex structures.
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.