Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15
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 shows a college cafe how it was designed and how it is now. The old cafe shows the left side was kitchen and a serving area with all kind of food and drinks . Instead of serving area , hot meals can hold that area now. On the left of the kitchen , there are two dining rooms for the staff members . Now , take away food and coffee bar takes place from staff dining rooms . Almost on the left corner of the kitchen , there is a salad bar added newly .On the right corner there are toilets and bigger recycling bin is added in new cafe design . In the centre , tables and chairs sitting still same in old and new cafes . But in the new cafe , addition of barbecue stall is added opposite to salad bar . The new cafe was also designed with huge outdoor sitting for students to enjoy in the pleasant weather.
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, such as the kitchen, dining areas, and new additions like the barbecue stall and outdoor seating. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes. The reporting of features is occasionally imprecise, such as the vague reference to 'hot meals can hold that area now.' To reach a higher band, you should provide a clear introductory overview that highlights the most significant transformations, such as the shift from staff-only dining to a more student-focused, multi-functional space, rather than just listing changes in a linear fashion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of information. While there is a logical attempt to move from the kitchen area to the dining and outdoor spaces, the lack of paragraphing hinders the overall flow. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often repetitive or mechanical (e.g., 'On the left', 'Now', 'In the centre'). To improve, you should group related information into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the internal structural changes and another for the new additions and outdoor area—and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'all kind of food' and 'takes place from' are slightly unnatural or inaccurate. There is some attempt at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'coffee bar', 'salad bar', and 'recycling bin', which is good. However, to achieve a higher score, you should aim for more sophisticated collocations and descriptive language to describe the changes, such as 'replaced by', 'converted into', or 'newly installed'. Avoid repetitive phrasing and focus on using more precise terminology for spatial descriptions.
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 clarity. Examples include 'The diagram shows a college cafe how it was designed' (missing 'as'), 'tables and chairs sitting still same' (awkward phrasing), and 'addition of barbecue stall is added' (redundant). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and more accurate sentence construction will help improve your accuracy and range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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