Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12

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)

In an overview, there are several changes in the café before redesign and the café today. In today's modern café, new things have been added, which are a salad bar and, at the bottom, there is a place for barbecue and outdoor seating is also available. Some things remain the same, while other things have changed their locations.

Café before redesign had a kitchen at the start and right next to it was a serving area where all food and drinks were available. Then, when we entered the café, there were two rooms which were known as staff dining rooms. There was also a bin available for garbage. Toilets were also provided by the café owner, and the majority of the area was filled with tables and chairs.

Now we talk about the modern café. The kitchen has remained in the same place in today's café, but the area right next to it is now known as hot meals. When we enter the café, we see two rooms which are called take-away food and coffee bar. The main change is that a salad bar has been added and the bins have been changed to recycling bins. Toilets are also available in the modern café. The remaining areas of the café are covered by tables and chairs. At the bottom of the café, a barbecue area has also been added, and outdoor seating is now available.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of the salad bar, barbecue area, and outdoor seating. However, the report is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. It lists changes sequentially rather than grouping them into clear thematic categories, which limits the 'overview' quality. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more integrated. To improve, you should focus on highlighting the most significant transformations—such as the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a coffee bar and take-away area—rather than detailing every minor element like the bins.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a report. However, the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'Now we talk about' and 'Then, when we entered' are a bit informal and repetitive. The use of cohesive devices is limited; you rely heavily on simple transitions. To reach a higher band, try to use more sophisticated linking words and phrases to connect ideas, such as 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' or 'Conversely,' which would help the reader follow the comparison more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You use basic terms like 'new things,' 'some things,' and 'at the bottom.' These are repetitive and imprecise. To improve, use more specific vocabulary related to spatial descriptions and changes, such as 'relocated,' 'transformed,' 'replaced,' or 'adjacent.' The phrase 'provided by the cafe owner' is slightly unnatural in this context. Focusing on more academic collocations will help elevate your writing style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'In an overview, there are several changes in the café before redesign,' which is slightly awkward. You also have minor issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'at the bottom of the café' (which is better expressed as 'at the southern end'). While the errors do not impede communication, the range of structures is somewhat limited. Incorporating more varied complex sentences, such as passive voice constructions to describe the changes, would improve your score.

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

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