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 given image illustrates the redevelopment of a college cafeteria. It demonstrates a comparison between how it looks earlier and how it has been transformed right away.
The conventional division of cafeteria consists of 5 major areas; firstly the kitchen, then one and only serving area including all type of foods and energy drinks, then a separate sitting for staff members, a substantial space for other's sitting and finally an exceptional area for male and females restrooms while the modern style consists of 9 different areas in total.
As far as the conventional design is concerned, it's old-fashioned and simple to look on. Overall, distinct variety of food is served at a single counter and is cooked in the kitchen behind it. The sitting space for people other than the staff is only indoor. When we look towards the modern style cafe, it has both outdoor and indoor space available to sit. The various variety of food has separate counters for purchasing. Hot meals are served separately while salad bar is on the left corner. The delivery food counter is separate and besides it is the coffee bar. The outdoor barbecue section is the best choice.
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 increase in seating areas and the addition of specific food counters. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. For instance, the mention of '9 different areas' is a good summary, but the comparison between the two plans could be more integrated. The response lacks a clear overview paragraph that highlights the most significant changes, such as the expansion of the cafe's footprint and the diversification of service points. While the key features are identified, the report would benefit from a more structured approach to comparing the 'before' and 'after' states.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'As far as the conventional design is concerned' and 'When we look towards the modern style cafe'. The transition between the description of the old layout and the new one is functional but lacks sophisticated linking. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive markers to better connect the comparison points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. Phrases like 'one and only serving area' and 'old-fashioned and simple to look on' are slightly unnatural. There is an attempt to use specific terms like 'redevelopment' and 'conventional', but the word choice is often repetitive or slightly imprecise, such as 'various variety of food' (which is redundant). To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding informal phrasing.
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 'division of cafeteria consists of' (missing article), 'other's sitting' (incorrect possessive), and 'look on' (incorrect preposition). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but some sentences are slightly clunky. The control of grammar is sufficient for communication, but the frequency of minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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