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 depict the various changes which made in a college cafeteria. It is evident that all the amendments were made to make this place more organized.
To commence with, it is noticeable that the staff dining rooms were changed into two places one is for a takeaway food centre, while the second room is converted into a coffee bar. After that, the size of recycling bin is increased and have more space. the main hall still consists of the tables and chairs for indoor eating. However, the people who prefer to eat outside the cafe now has the outdoor seating arrangement to get a scenic view while eating under the sky, there is also a Barbecue just beside the seating arrangement, beside the gate. Moreover, the indoor main hall also has a new Salad bar for the people who favours veggies. Finally, the kitchen still has same structure, the only difference is that, now what used to be as serving area for all food and drinks is being used as hot meals.
Overall, the kitchen is now look more structured and organized with multiple new facilities, the reconstruction has now seemed worth the change.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 redesign, such as the conversion of the staff dining rooms and the addition of the outdoor seating and salad bar. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score. While the student identifies specific details, the description of the kitchen area is slightly confusing, as the text states it has the 'same structure' but then mentions a change in the serving area. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the most striking transformations rather than just listing details in a chronological or spatial sequence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'However', and 'Moreover'. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'the size of recycling bin is increased and have more space', where the subject-verb agreement and flow are disrupted. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion, which helps the reader follow the progression of the description.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes effectively. Phrases like 'scenic view' and 'outdoor seating arrangement' are used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'various changes which made' (should be 'which were made') and 'favours veggies' (which is too informal for an academic report). To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more precise, formal vocabulary and avoid colloquialisms like 'veggies'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'the kitchen is now look more structured' (should be 'looks') and 'the people who prefer... has the outdoor seating' (should be 'have'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and punctuation, such as the comma splice in 'under the sky, there is also a Barbecue'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they occur frequently enough to limit the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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