Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The maps delineate the infrastructure of a college cafe now and before it was redesigned .

Overall , it is evident that the canteen went through tremendous transformations ; while the outdoor seating increased substantially and staff dining rooms were almost eliminated .

In the south , the arrangements for outdoor seating has been increased and in south - west , a barbecue has been constructed . The area for the recycling bin has been enlarged in the present map as compared to that for redesign . An outstanding feature of these illustrations is that the position of toilets in the south - east remained intact .

Turning to the rest of the details of these plans , the staff dining rooms has been completely rebuilt into take away food and coffee bar . Further , in the north , there has been no change in the kitchen area however , serving area ( all food and drink ) has been modified into hot meals . To the west of tables and chairs area , a salad bar counter has been introduced .

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 expansion of outdoor seating, the removal of staff dining rooms, and the addition of new facilities like the barbecue and salad bar. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial references are precise; for instance, you mention the barbecue is in the 'south-west', but the map shows it in the north-west. Accuracy in reporting data from visual prompts is essential for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by location and function. You use cohesive devices such as 'Turning to', 'Further', and 'In the south' to guide the reader through the changes. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more balanced. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but ensure that referencing (e.g., 'these plans') is always unambiguous to maintain a smooth flow of information throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'delineate', 'infrastructure', 'tremendous transformations', and 'remained intact'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'arrangements for outdoor seating has been increased' (seating areas are usually 'expanded' or 'extended') and 'redesign' used as a noun for the original state. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for some precision, incorporating more varied and sophisticated collocations related to map descriptions would elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you successfully use passive voice ('has been constructed', 'has been modified'), there are several subject-verb agreement errors, such as 'the arrangements... has been increased' and 'staff dining rooms has been completely rebuilt'. These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization and verb agreement. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence structures are varied enough to convey the information clearly, though more complex subordinating clauses could be used to improve the flow.

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

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