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 two blueprints reflect how the layout of the college cafeteria looks now, and before redesigning that area.
Overall, all the places inside old cafe transformed into more complex and well distributed modern place by rearranging it.
The old cafe had only two dining rooms which can use for the staff. There was a kitchen situated in the northwest side of the cafeteria, and it faced towards the serving area which customers can purchase all food and drink.
By the present day, a takeaway food branch and a coffee bar supplanted the old staff dining rooms which are located in the middle of the cafe. In the outdoor, some seating area was designed with a barbecue room. Similarly, in the west side of the cafeteria a new room which people can buy salads has been designed. The old serving area has shifted to place which can purchase the hot meals by redesigning it, although toilets and bin situated in southeast corner as it is in old cafe.
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 new facilities like the takeaway branch and the outdoor seating area. However, the description is somewhat fragmented and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention the transformation, the summary could be more precise by grouping features more logically (e.g., internal changes vs. external additions). Some details, such as the location of the toilets and bins, are mentioned but the comparison between the 'before' and 'now' states could be more explicitly contrasted to highlight the scale of the changes. Overall, you have addressed the task requirements adequately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'By the present day' or 'In the outdoor'. The transition between the description of the old layout and the new one is functional but could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect your observations more naturally rather than relying on simple sentence-by-sentence progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'blueprints', 'supplanted', and 'redesigned'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'places inside old cafe' is imprecise, and 'in the outdoor' is grammatically incorrect (should be 'outdoors' or 'outside'). The phrase 'shifted to place which can purchase' is also clunky. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise nouns and verbs to describe spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'converted', or 'extended', and ensure collocations are natural.
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 several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'before redesigning that area' (should be 'before the area was redesigned'), 'which can use for the staff' (passive voice needed: 'which could be used'), and 'in the west side' (preposition error: 'on the west side'). There are also issues with relative clauses and article usage. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your points, they are frequent enough to limit the score.
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.