Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11
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 diagram illustrates the design of a cafe in a college before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, the cafe before redesign we enter from the main door and our left side dustbins are located and same as well as left side of bins toilets are located and if we walk straight from here tables and chairs area is located where students sat during break and enjoy their lunch and its right side staff dining area is held and if we go again straight from this area we found kitchen and service area on our right side where foods and drinks are stored and cooked various kind of dishes.
While on the other hand, if we talk about on new design of cafe toilets and bins are located at the same place but new thing is added called recycling bin. Tables and chairs and kitchen are also located at the same location but staff dining area is removed and coffee bar or take away food setup is installed. Outdoor sitting are also introduced where barbecue and outdoor sitting is located.
In summary, there are some major changes in a cafe before and after redesigning.
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 cafe plans, identifying key changes such as the addition of the recycling bin, the coffee bar, and the outdoor seating area. However, the description is overly narrative and relies on a 'walking tour' approach (e.g., 'if we walk straight from here'), which is not the most effective way to report data in an Academic Task 1. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the two plans lacks analytical depth. The response would benefit from more precise grouping of information rather than a step-by-step walkthrough of the layout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on phrases like 'if we go again' and 'while on the other hand'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout of the cafe. The transition between the 'before' and 'after' descriptions is functional but lacks the sophisticated linking required for higher bands. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. The student uses basic descriptors such as 'new thing is added' and 'same place'. There is a lack of topic-specific vocabulary related to architectural plans or spatial descriptions (e.g., 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'replaced by', 'transformed'). While the meaning is generally clear, the range is limited, and the phrasing is somewhat informal, which detracts from the academic tone required for this task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'bins are located... and same as well as left side of bins toilets are located'), awkward phrasing, and punctuation errors. The sentence construction is often clunky, which occasionally impedes the reader's ability to grasp the spatial relationships quickly. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied sentence structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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