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 image illustrates the renewal of cafe that how it looks before and after redesigned how it looks today. Overall, the changes that have been made is replacing serving area to hot meals, staff dining rooms to take away food and coffee bar. Toilets and tables chair remained same.
The kitchen is located at the entrance of restaurant at the opposite there is a serving area where all food and drink were available. There are two massive staff dining rooms available along with tables and chairs where people can eat easily to sit. At the left side bin is available and toilets is located in front of bin.
The current layout depicts the relocate, the indoor serving area replaced with hot meals. And the big changes have taken place is alternation of staff dining room with take away food and coffee bar. The bin is also replaced with recycling bin. Toilets remained same. in the addition salad bar is added. In the outdoor barbecue shops added and managed seating area for customers.
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 provides a basic overview of the changes, but it lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. While you identify the main features, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precise spatial references. For example, stating 'Toilets and tables chair remained same' is a good observation, but the report would benefit from more specific comparisons between the two layouts. The summary of the 'before' and 'after' states is clear, but the overall progression could be more structured to highlight the most significant transformations, such as the shift from staff-focused dining to a more customer-oriented service model.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical approach. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, 'in the addition' is non-standard, and the transition between the description of the original layout and the current layout is abrupt. While there is a clear attempt to sequence the information, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the flow feel disjointed. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') would help the reader track the changes more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision needed for a higher score. You rely on basic verbs like 'is' and 'replaced', and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'alternation of staff dining room' (instead of 'replacement' or 'conversion'). The use of 'massive' is slightly informal for an academic report. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to architectural changes, such as 'converted', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'integrated'. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it does not demonstrate a wide or flexible vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of the text. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the changes that have been made is'), missing articles ('at the entrance of restaurant'), and awkward sentence structures ('The image illustrates the renewal of cafe that how it looks'). While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often marred by errors. To reach a higher band, focus on consistent subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. The punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction needs more variety and accuracy to demonstrate a better command of English grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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