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 given maps depict the changes of the college cafeteria from the past.

Overall, it can be clearly mentioned that, the updated canteen is comparatively larger than the older one. However, the kitchen, toilets, tables and chairs are remained same throughout the time.

To begin with, according to the first map, the entrance was located at the eastern part of the cafe. However, the staff dining rooms were noticed right corner of the cafeteria. In addition to that, the opposite side of the staff dinning halls, toilets and were located in the South-East side of the canteen. Beside this, the bin was located. Meanwhile, tables and chairs were notified in the center of the cafeteria. Lastly, the kitchen and serving aera were observed in the North-West corner of the cafe.

Furthermore, as per the second map, there are several changes in the modern cafe. First and foremost is, staff dining rooms are replaced by the take away food and coffee bar. While, the salad bar is introduced in the western corner of the canteen and in front of the recycle bins are also updated. Lastly, there is a barbecue is located to the outside of the cafe along with outdoor seating.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the removal of staff dining rooms and the addition of a coffee bar, salad bar, and outdoor seating. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; you state that the kitchen and tables remained the same, but the plan shows the kitchen was relocated and the seating layout was significantly altered. While you identify key changes, the lack of precise spatial relationships and the misinterpretation of the 'before' and 'after' states limit the score. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the two maps to distinguish between permanent features and those that were moved or replaced.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to a description of the original layout and then the changes. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Meanwhile' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'Beside this, the bin was located', where the antecedent is ambiguous. The progression of information is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be more natural to achieve a higher band. Focus on using a wider variety of cohesive markers to connect your points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cafeteria', 'redesigned', 'relocated', and 'introduced'. There are some instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'are remained same' (should be 'remained the same') and 'serving aera' (spelling error). You also rely on repetitive structures when describing locations. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial description, such as 'situated in the vicinity of', 'adjacent to', or 'underwent a transformation', and ensure your spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the precision of your writing. Examples include 'are remained same' (incorrect passive voice), 'staff dining rooms are replaced' (tense inconsistency), and 'in front of the recycle bins are also updated' (grammatical structure error). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. Working on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past and present states will significantly improve your score.

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

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