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 provided diagram represents the change in the layout of the design of the college cafe before and after refurbishment.
Overall, it is evident that most of the changes in the cafe were done outside the cafe.In addition to this, there has been observed new facilities available for the students .
Turning first to the most notable feature, it can be observed that the cafe introduced the outdoor seating area and a Barbecue outside the cafe. Initially, there was a serving area for all food and drink but now it is subsequently replaced by hot meals.
With regard to the remaining facilities , there was addition of a salad bar in front of the door of the kitchen.There was no variation in the placement of toilets but a new gate was added beside the toilet which directly open to the outdoor seating. The bins earlier were now replaced to recycling bins. Over the time, the staff Dining rooms were changed to take away food room and a coffee bar. The area for tables and chairs remain unchanged after the redesign.
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, such as the outdoor seating, the kitchen modifications, and the change in staff facilities. However, the overview is somewhat vague, and some descriptions are inaccurate or confusing. For instance, stating that 'most of the changes... were done outside' is a subjective interpretation that lacks precision. Additionally, the description of the serving area being 'subsequently replaced by hot meals' is unclear, as it describes a function rather than a physical layout change. To improve, ensure that all spatial changes are described with greater clarity and that the overview highlights the most significant structural transformations rather than general observations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the description. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Turning first to' and 'With regard to', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but there are instances where the flow is disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'The bins earlier were now replaced to recycling bins.' Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'refurbishment', 'notable feature', and 'variation' used appropriately. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'replaced to' (should be 'replaced by') and 'open to the outdoor seating' (should be 'opens onto'). The phrase 'over the time' is also slightly unnatural in this context. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing when describing the movement or alteration of facilities.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there has been observed new facilities' (subject-verb agreement) and 'The bins earlier were now replaced' (awkward word order). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor issues with spacing and sentence construction. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing changes in a layout.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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