Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13
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)
The given plan describe the structure of the cafe before and after the reconstruction and features .
Overall the main building structure and the plot is remain the same and after new features added to it. Such has serving area is changed and a barbeque sector and a salad bar is added.
The change show that the plot for the cafe in collage area is remain the same .But on the other hand a few new sectors and bar is designed
in reconstruction and a few sector rearranged. The kitchen remain the same and the serving area changed into hot meal sector . The table and chair pard , bibs area and the toilets remain the same in the structure of cafe after reconstruction. But on the other hand a new salad bar is constructed on the inner side of wall. A new barbeque sector is introduced in outer side of the cafe building . New sets of tables and chairs is also introduced out side of cafe after reconstruction.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of the salad bar, barbeque area, and outdoor seating. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the report would benefit from a more structured comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states. Some details, such as the 'bibs area', are unclear, and the overall summary lacks the precision required for a higher band. The response addresses the prompt but lacks the sophisticated selection of key features that would elevate the analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'but on the other hand' and 'remain the same'. The progression of information is somewhat disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes clearly. Paragraphing is present but could be used more effectively to separate the general overview from the specific details of the layout changes. Referencing is occasionally unclear, which impacts the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'collage area' (likely meaning 'college') and 'pard' (likely meaning 'part'). The student relies heavily on basic descriptors like 'changed', 'added', and 'remain the same'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'adjacent to', or 'situated'. Spelling errors, such as 'collage' and 'barbeque' (inconsistent usage), also detract from the overall quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, for example, 'The given plan describe', 'the plot... is remain', and 'New sets of tables... is also introduced'. There is a limited range of sentence structures, with most sentences being simple or containing basic errors in construction. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing and capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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