Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The illustration compares the state of a college cafe before and after it was remodelled.

Overall, numerous other options of foods were introduced like barbecue, salad, take away, and hot meals. The capacity of the cafe was increased to cater more people outside. The staff dining rooms were also transformed into an area for take away food and a coffee bar.

The kitchen contained a serving area earlier which has now been replaced with hot meals. A salad bar has been set up right in front of the kitchen door following a barbeque section to the right of the door leading to the outside seating area. The bin next to the entrance of the cafe was replaced with larger recycling bins. Take away food and the coffee bar are conveniently placed almost at the centre of the cafe.

The main hall still offers tables and chairs for people to sit and enjoy their meals. Similarly, the toilets are at the same corner they were at before.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted key changes such as the introduction of new food options, the expansion of seating, and the repurposing of the staff dining area. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is consistent. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, describing the location of the salad bar as 'right in front of the kitchen door' is good, but ensure the relationship between the new features and the existing layout is always clear to the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on specific changes. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Similarly' and 'The main hall still offers', which help link the information. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words to connect the sentences within paragraphs, as some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'remodelled', 'transformed', and 'conveniently placed'. The language is generally accurate and appropriate for describing a process or change. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks a degree of sophistication. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations or descriptive adjectives related to spatial changes, such as 'reconfigured', 'expanded', or 'integrated'. The current vocabulary is sufficient but does not show a wide range of less common lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the grammar is generally accurate. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are minor issues, such as 'cater more people' which should be 'cater to more people'. While you have used some complex structures, increasing the variety of your sentence patterns—such as using more passive voice constructions to describe the changes—would enhance your score. Overall, your control of grammar is solid and does not impede communication.

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

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