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 diagram depicts some changes in a collage cafe which redesigned from before to today. It is quite evident that the kitchen and toilets are remaining on same place.
There are several rooms and bars which are newly added in the collage cafe, which are salad bar, barbecue, tables and outside seating area. Additionally, there are few replacements which have been taken place today, firstly, serving area which included for all food and drinks is replaced by hot meals, it is nearer to kitchen. Secondly, there were staff dining rooms but now it is modified into a take away food counter and a coffee bar. Lastly, the quantities of recycling bins are increase. A few departments remaining in same position, such as, kitchen, tables and chairs which occupy the large area in the cafe, also the toilets. Half of the area from tables and chairs are converted into outdoor seating place and a little part of the space is now reserve as barbecue.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, identifying key changes such as the addition of the salad bar and barbecue, and noting what remained unchanged. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant transformations. While the student identifies specific additions and replacements, the description of the layout changes is slightly confusing, particularly regarding the 'tables and chairs' area. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most striking changes, such as the shift from a general dining area to a more specialized service-oriented layout, rather than just listing individual components.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is acceptable, though the logical progression within the second paragraph is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices like 'firstly', 'secondly', and 'lastly' is mechanical and slightly repetitive. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when the text mentions 'it is modified' without a clear antecedent for the specific area being discussed. Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'collage cafe' (likely a misspelling of 'college') and 'quantities of recycling bins are increase'. The use of 'replacements which have been taken place' is grammatically incorrect and demonstrates limited control over collocations. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise verbs for describing changes, such as 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and ensure that nouns and verbs are used in their correct forms to convey information more naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Examples include 'which redesigned from before to today', 'are remaining on same place', and 'are increase'. Subject-verb agreement and tense usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring correct verb tenses and preposition usage, will significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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