Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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 maps illustrate changing in college cafe structure after reconstruction.

Overall, after redesigned cafe more facilities introduced in new building and outdoor seating system expanded in new map.

To begin, in old building 1 food point provided all the products of eating and drinking and two staff dinning rooms were available in hall. In east side of cafe a small bin placed and there was no outdoor seating in previous building.

After redesign all sections of food construct separately. The recycling bin construct beside the toilets and the barbecue stall introduce outside of cafe and two 4 seater and three 6 seater tables placed in front of stall. In old building there was only 1 entrance and 1 exit on east side while, in new building two more door install in south side of cafe. the table and chairs area are in p

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some key features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of the barbecue stall and the changes to seating, the summary is incomplete. The final sentence is cut off mid-thought, and you have not fully described the layout changes or provided a comprehensive comparison between the two plans. To improve, ensure you cover all major changes (e.g., the relocation of the kitchen and the new entrance/exit configuration) and provide a clear, finished overview that meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final sentence. You use some basic cohesive devices like 'To begin' and 'After redesign', but the progression of ideas feels somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the description of the food points. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence. Most importantly, ensure your response is complete so that the logical progression of your argument is not interrupted by an abrupt ending.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use repetitive phrasing, such as 'in old building' and 'in new building'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'food construct separately' and 'staff dinning rooms'. To improve, try to use more descriptive verbs and nouns related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'partitioned', or 'integrated'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetition and make your writing more engaging and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly regarding article usage ('in east side', 'in old building') and verb tense/form ('after redesigned cafe', 'two more door install'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the incomplete final sentence makes it impossible to assess your ability to use complex structures effectively. To improve, focus on basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Additionally, practice combining simple sentences into complex ones using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical control.

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.