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 two maps compare the transformation of the college cafe from the previous design to the present ones.

Overall, various changes can be noticed, including the addition of a salad bar, outdoor seating, and a barbecue, the repurpose of staff dining rooms into take away food and coffee bar.

Beginning with the western side of the cafe, the serving area, which served for all kind of food and drink has transformed into a hot meals. However, the kitchen has remained untouched regardless of any changes. Moreover, a salad bar, barbecue and outdoor seating have been added to the new design, creating a huge difference compared with the old design and how it has changed.

In terms of eastern side of the plan, toilets have stayed the same without any changes; meanwhile, the staff dining rooms has become a new area for take away food and a place for coffee bar. Interestingly, the old bin one has changed into a new recycling bin.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign. You have clearly highlighted the key additions, such as the salad bar and outdoor seating, and the repurposing of the staff dining area. However, the overview is slightly cluttered with too much detail; an overview should ideally focus on the most significant trends (e.g., the expansion of service areas and the addition of outdoor facilities) rather than listing every specific change. The description of the kitchen remaining 'untouched' is a good observation. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview provides a clear, high-level summary of the transformation without listing specific items.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, moving from an introduction and overview to specific details of the western and eastern sides. You use some cohesive devices like 'Beginning with', 'Moreover', and 'In terms of', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the final sentence about the recycling bin feels slightly tacked on. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'transformation', 'repurpose', and 'remained untouched'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'served for all kind of food' (should be 'served all kinds of food') and 'the old bin one' (which is awkward phrasing). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more precise collocations related to architectural or spatial changes to elevate your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that, while they do not impede communication, are noticeable. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'the staff dining rooms has become' (should be 'have become') and 'the serving area... has transformed into a hot meals' (should be 'has been transformed into a hot meal area'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there is room for more variety in sentence structure to demonstrate greater control over complex forms.

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

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