Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-06
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 a cafe in a college before and after its refurbishment.
Overall, the cafe underwent many significant changes after it was redesigned. Many basic amenities were added such as Salad bar and Barbecue. In addition, staff dining rooms are replaced by take away and coffee bar. Moreover, outdoor seating was arranged outside of the cafe.
An analysis of the image reveals that, the north side of cafe included a kitchen, and it remained unchanged even before its refurbishment. However, before refurbishment serving area, which commonly includes all types of food and drinks was replaced by hot meals. Furthermore, at the center of the cafe, staff dining rooms were replaced by take away food counter and a coffee bar.
From the image it is evident that, the northwest of the cafe included a salad bar after its remodification. Also, the space for recycle bins was extended, before there is only a small bin in the cafe. Toilets remained unchanged. Another important change made to the cafe was outdoor seating with more tables and chairs along with barbecue.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 addition of the salad bar, barbecue, and the reconfiguration of the serving area. You have successfully identified the key changes and made relevant comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. However, the report could be improved by being more precise with spatial descriptions; for instance, describing the layout changes more systematically would enhance the clarity of the report. While the main features are addressed, some descriptions, such as the 'north side' and 'northwest' areas, could be more clearly linked to the visual evidence to ensure the reader can easily follow the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Furthermore' to connect ideas. While these are generally effective, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of information from the general changes to specific spatial details. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'before there is only a small bin' is slightly awkward and could be better integrated into the flow of the sentence to improve cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'refurbishment', 'amenities', and 'remodification'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'remodification' is not the most natural term in this context; 'renovation' or 'redesign' would be better. Additionally, 'staff dining rooms are replaced by take away' is slightly imprecise as it lacks an article or a more formal descriptor for the counter. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptive language for spatial changes would help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally affect the flow, such as 'before there is only a small bin' (tense inconsistency) and 'the north side of cafe' (missing article). Additionally, 'before refurbishment serving area... was replaced' requires a determiner. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage and maintaining consistent verb tenses when describing past and present states will significantly improve your accuracy.
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.