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)
Following plans are showing before and after of resigned college café.
Plans are showing how the café was previously designed and how it looks now.
In both designs kitchen ,toilet, bin, tables and chairs are at the same place. While the other corners of the collage café have changed a lot. In place of staff dining rooms now there are take away food corner and coffee bar.
Serving area which was used for all food and drink has changed into hot meals and right below it at the left side, there is an addition of salad bar. On the outer side of new café now there is outdoor seating along with the barbecue corner.
Overall the new café has changed a lot with the addition of more facilities and different food corners that provide more food choices and better environment for enjoyment. Specifically the outdoor seating area provides the facility of enjoyment in good weather.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main features of the redesign, such as the addition of the coffee bar, salad bar, and outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score. The description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precise comparative language. While the key changes are mentioned, the response would benefit from a more structured approach, such as grouping the changes by location or type of facility, to better highlight the transformation of the space.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into short paragraphs, but the logical flow is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, the transition between the description of the interior and the exterior is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'While the other corners of the collage café have changed a lot,' which lacks a clear connection to the previous sentence. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on basic terms like 'changed a lot' and 'at the same place' multiple times. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'resigned' instead of 'redesigned' and 'collage' instead of 'college'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'incorporated'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('Following plans are showing') and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple, and there is a lack of complex structures. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'kitchen ,toilet, bin, tables'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors and the limited range of grammatical structures prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles 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.