Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The map demonstrates a college cafe layout before and after renovation and how it looks like now.

Examining the details of the planning of a college cafe before redesigning, there was lots of ample space. It was situated in L-shaped structure in that the kitchen, a serving area where all food and drinks were served to the students as well as a staff dining room are covered two room. There was a plenty of place for tables and chair.

After renovation, significant changes occur. The new area was introduced on the eastern side with the barbecue facilities with the outdoor seating. There was some space converted for other purposes a staff dining room converted into a take away food and a coffee bar. A size of recycling bin had been expanded. The number of doors has been increased near toilets and the barbecue area. A salad bar was built on the left side of the wall. A serving area was replaced by hot meals. The kitchen as well as toilets remained the same.

Overall, the cafe depicts significant changes on its design as well as some new amenities included such as the barbecue, a salad bar, a coffee bar and a hot meals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the cafe redesign, including the new barbecue area, the conversion of the staff room, and the addition of the salad bar. The overview is present, though it could be more analytical by highlighting the most significant transformation rather than just listing features. The description of the 'before' state is slightly vague, and some details, such as the 'hot meals' area, are described in a way that is slightly confusing compared to the visual evidence. However, the main trends are identified, and the response successfully contrasts the two layouts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the 'before' and 'after' states. Cohesive devices are present, such as 'After renovation' and 'Overall', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, although the connection between sentences in the second paragraph could be smoother. Referencing is mostly clear, but the flow is occasionally interrupted by slightly awkward phrasing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'renovation', 'amenities', and 'converted'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'lots of ample space' (redundant) and 'covered two room' (grammatically incorrect). The phrase 'how it looks like now' is also slightly unnatural in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'A size of recycling bin had been expanded' (incorrect article usage) and 'The kitchen as well as toilets remained the same' (missing article). Some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'It was situated in L-shaped structure in that the kitchen... are covered two room'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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