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 given maps illustrate a college cafe before renovation and after giving it a new design.

It is clearly seen from both the maps that kitchen is at its same place without any changes, however, the serving area (all food & drink) changed to hot meals only. After redesigning, a salad bar and barbecue were added on the east side. Tables and chairs remained as it is in the center of the cafe. The bin is converted into recycling bins in today's cafe.

Moving further, the staff dining room was replaced by take away food and coffee bar, which is near the tables and chairs. The toilets area is unchanged on the south-west corner. One more major change is outdoor seating, there was no any outdoor seating in first map, but now there is south side of cafe is covered with chairs and tables.

Overall, two major changes are noticeable, first is outdoor seating area has been added, and a salad bar & barbecue have opened.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe renovation well. You have identified the key changes, such as the addition of the salad bar, the outdoor seating, and the repurposing of the staff room. The overview provides a clear summary of the most significant developments. However, to reach a higher band, ensure you provide more precise comparisons. For instance, instead of saying the kitchen is 'at its same place', you could describe its position relative to other features. Additionally, ensure all labels are accurately reflected; you mentioned the serving area changed to 'hot meals only', but the plan indicates a broader range of services. Overall, the task is addressed clearly and effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding overview. You use transition signals such as 'Moving further' and 'Overall' to guide the reader through the information. However, some cohesive devices are used in a slightly mechanical way, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as 'there was no any outdoor seating in first map'. Improving the flow between sentences by using more varied linking words would enhance the cohesion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different areas of the cafe, which helps the reader follow the description of the layout changes.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'renovation', 'repurposed', and 'noticeable'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation that prevent a higher score. For example, 'at its same place' should be 'in the same location', and 'there was no any' is grammatically incorrect. Furthermore, the phrasing 'in today's cafe' is slightly informal for an academic report. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your word choices are natural and contextually appropriate for a formal description of a floor plan.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'the kitchen is at its same place', 'remained as it is', and 'there was no any outdoor seating'. These errors, while not impeding communication, occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage (e.g., 'the first map'), subject-verb agreement, and the correct formation of negative sentences. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher band score.

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

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