Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The diagrams compare the layout of a college cafe before and after its renovation.

Overall, the cafe has undergone significant changes. Previously the structure was quite simple but now it has included lots of amenities and dedicated dining options for visitors while also expanding its seating arrangement outside.

Before the redesign, there was a huge hall with tables and chairs for students or visitor to enjoy their meal which still exists. Beside that, two dedicated dining rooms for staff was installed. At the top left corner, kitchen and an adjacent serving counter served all food and drink to students/visitors. Furthermore, at the bottom right corner toilets and a dustbin facility were included.

Following the renovation, its seating capacity has been expanded by constructing a outdoor seating arrangement with a barbecue corner at the bottom left corner. Even though the hall with tables and chairs remain in the same location, a salad bar has been included in the left side. Opposite to that, the dustbin has ben upgraded in to recycling bins. The kitchen area has not changed but now they serve hot meals in the counter. Additionally, the toilet area remains in the same spot however, the former staff dining room has been replaced with a takeaway food and a coffee bar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of the outdoor seating, the salad bar, and the conversion of the staff dining rooms. The overview is clear and highlights the main changes effectively. However, the description of the 'before' state contains some inaccuracies regarding the layout (e.g., mentioning two staff dining rooms when the plan shows one, and misidentifying the location of the kitchen). While the task is addressed, more precision in reporting the spatial relationships and specific features would improve the score. The summary is well-structured and provides a logical comparison between the two time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the 'before' and 'after' states. Cohesive devices such as 'Previously', 'Furthermore', 'Following the renovation', and 'Additionally' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is clear. There is a slight mechanical feel to some of the transitions, but the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'renovation', 'amenities', 'adjacent', and 'expanded' used correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'dustbin facility' (which is better described as 'waste disposal area') and 'upgraded in to' (which should be 'upgraded to'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the necessary information, though it lacks the more sophisticated, precise terminology that would be expected at a higher band level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'visitor to enjoy' (should be plural 'visitors'), 'two dedicated dining rooms... was installed' (subject-verb agreement error: 'were'), and 'dustbin has ben upgraded' (spelling error). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede communication. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a report of this nature, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain the flow of the text.

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

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