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 map illustrates the changes in the layout of a cafe prior to redesigning and after redesigning.

overall, the sitting area underwent several changes. the principal change is the introduction of salad bar and the addition of barbecue.

Previously, the kitchen has a serving area for all type of drinks and food which is now assigned to hot meals. Just in the front of kitchen door a salad bar is introduced. staff dining rooms are demolished and a coffee bar and take away food stand id built . The area assigned to bin is enlarged. No other significant difference is seen in indoor sitting area ,while few changes are made in outdoor area.

A specific area for barbecue is presented outside the cafe . A door near the toilets is built ton enter the outdoor area . An outdoor sitting area is established in front of barbecue for the customers to enjoy the outdoor view while having barbecue. There is not nay other considerable change made in the plan of cafe .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the kitchen modifications, the addition of the salad bar, and the outdoor changes. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear synthesis of the overall transformation. While the main features are identified, the description of the 'kitchen' area is slightly inaccurate as the original plan shows a general serving area, not a kitchen. The response would benefit from a more precise comparison of the spatial changes, such as the removal of the staff dining room to accommodate the new coffee bar and takeaway stand, which is a key structural shift.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to indoor changes and then outdoor changes. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'A specific area...', 'An outdoor sitting area...'). The transition between sentences is occasionally abrupt, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the phrase 'No other significant difference is seen in indoor sitting area', which lacks a smooth connection to the preceding sentence. Improved use of linking words would enhance the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling and typographical errors, such as 'sitting' instead of 'seating', 'id' instead of 'is', and 'ton' instead of 'to'. The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptors like 'changes', 'made', and 'built'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to layout changes, such as 'relocated', 'converted', 'partitioned', or 'expanded', and ensure greater accuracy in spelling and word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'all type of drinks' (should be 'all types'), 'Just in the front of kitchen door' (missing articles), and 'There is not nay other' (spelling/grammar error). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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