Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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 6.0)

The provided maps compare the layout changes of a particular college cafe before and after the redevelopment.

Looking from an overall, perspective, it is crystal clear that cafe has become more modern and convenient. several new regions for food were added, while many refurbishments have been made. However, some areas remained unchanged throughout the period.

At first glance, it is noticeable that before redesign the kitchen was located in the top left corner, with one serving area for all food and drinks in front of it. On the right side, there was one dustbin near the entrance, and the toilets were in the bottom right corner. the remaining area was covered with basic furniture of the cafe.

Moving further, after the redesign the cafe has seen under substantial developments. Subsequently, the kitchen remained at the exact place, but the serving area was converted to a fresh hot meals counter. The two staff dining rooms were eradicated and redeveloped into a take-away food section and a coffee bar. Additionally, a salad bar and a barbecue area were also added on the left side of the café. Furthermore, the main seating area inside stayed in the centre, while a new outdoor seating area was established at the front of the café. Finally, the new recycling bins were introduced at the same spot, although the toilets remained in the same location.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the kitchen, seating areas, and new facilities. You provided a clear overview and made relevant comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. The information is well-selected and covers all key changes, such as the addition of the salad bar and the conversion of the staff dining rooms. To reach a higher band, ensure that your overview is more concise and avoids subjective language like 'crystal clear' or 'convenient', as the task requires an objective summary of the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological or thematic progression. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Moving further', 'Subsequently', and 'Furthermore' to link your ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the 'before' and 'after' descriptions. To improve, focus on varying your linking phrases to ensure the flow feels more natural and less like a list of points.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'refurbishments', and 'eradicated'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'regions' (areas is more appropriate for a floor plan) and 'under substantial developments' (which is grammatically awkward). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, some choices are slightly imprecise. Focusing on collocations related to spatial descriptions will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Looking from an overall, perspective' (unnecessary comma), 'cafe has seen under substantial developments' (incorrect preposition/structure), and 'at the same spot' (could be more precise). Additionally, there are some minor punctuation and capitalization errors, such as starting a sentence with a lowercase 'the'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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