Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagrams illustrate how a college cafe was looked before and now after redesign whole structure.

The first plan is shows cafe before renewable. There are numerous facilities available in cafe, including staff dining rooms with tables and chairs for students. Additionally, there is a kitchen in the north west corner which supply all kinds of food and beverages. There is also provide toilets and dustbin for staff. On the other hand, the second plan explains features of modern cafe after modifying. Modern and redesigned cafe equip multiple facilities such as salad bar, hot and fresh meal, coffee bar, take away food, recycling bin, toilets and tables or chairs. In the outside of cafe, the college administration accesses the facilities of Barbecue and sitting arrangement for management, staff and pupils.

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 task achievement score. While the student identifies some key features of the cafe before and after the redesign, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes. The description is somewhat repetitive and fails to make meaningful comparisons between the two layouts. For instance, the mention of 'staff dining rooms' versus the new 'salad bar' is a good start, but the lack of detail regarding the spatial changes or the removal of certain features limits the development of the response. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the main trends and reach the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is a logical approach for a comparison task. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'On the other hand' are used, but the flow between sentences is often disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the opening sentence where the grammar makes the relationship between the two plans difficult to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one would enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'before renewable' (likely meant 'renovation') and 'after modifying'. The student uses basic descriptors like 'modern' and 'numerous'. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim for more precise terminology related to spatial changes, such as 'expanded', 'relocated', 'transformed', or 'integrated'. The repetition of 'facilities' also suggests a limited range of vocabulary for describing the features of the cafe.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'how a college cafe was looked before', 'the first plan is shows', and 'there is also provide toilets'. These errors indicate a lack of control over basic sentence structures and verb forms. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often inaccurate. The student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing diagrams and processes in Academic Task 1.

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

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