Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08
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 map illustrates the college cafe before and after construction.
Overall, it's clear that Outdoor seating and many others like Salad bar and Barbecue were added. On the other hand, Staff dining rooms were replaced by Take away food and coffee bar.
Serving area was renamed to Hot meals and several Recycling bins were added. In addition, two doors were constructed to enter and exit from Barbecue and Outdoor seating area.
On the north side of cafe, Serving area reconstructed to Hot meals, Whereas Staff dining rooms were changed to a Take away food and Coffee bar. Furthermore, Salad bar and Recycling bins were added. Although Tables and chairs were remained same as it is.
At the south side of cafe, it had dramatical changes. Before the construction, the south area was empty. In present, Barbecue at left of southern part and Outdoor seating were arranged. More importantly, two doors were added for entrance and exit to southern region.
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, including the addition of the outdoor seating, barbecue, and the reconfiguration of the serving and dining areas. You have successfully identified the key changes and provided a clear overview. However, the response could be improved by ensuring more precise comparisons. For instance, stating 'Tables and chairs were remained same as it is' is slightly inaccurate as the layout shows they were rearranged. Additionally, while the main features are highlighted, the description of the spatial changes could be more detailed to fully capture the transformation for a reader who cannot see the map.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the north and south sections. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions. For example, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs feels a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used more naturally would help elevate the score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'reconstructed', 'rearranged', and 'construction'. However, there are instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'dramatical changes' (should be 'dramatic') and 'remained same as it is' (should be 'remained the same'). Some vocabulary is repetitive, and there is a lack of more sophisticated collocations that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. Focusing on accurate word forms and more precise descriptive language will help improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and articles. For example, 'Tables and chairs were remained' is grammatically incorrect (passive voice error), and 'At the south side of cafe' is missing an article. Additionally, 'In present' should be 'At present'. These errors occur throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you need to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct use of passive voice, and consistent article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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