Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16
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 illustrates a college cafe which was redesigned. Earlier it was more like an open space which was not efficiently utilised. All the food and snack space was designed altogether as one while block. The staff had a separate dining room which seems to be very comfortable but rest of the cafe had only scattered chairs and tables ehich shows no proper arrangement. No outdoor area is present and there is one bin for trash.
However the new cafe is beautifully designed. It is made efficiently utilising all the space to make most of what they have.
The kitchen serves hot and fresh meals only and there is a separate place for takeaway food. A newly.opemed coffee bar and a salad bar is present for the convenience of students and staff. Instead of only one bin recycling bins are placed. The outdoor space is used for sitting and a barbecue setup is also made there, to sit and enjoy on a good weather day.
The new design is efficiently made and the sitting arrangement is expanded too as compared to the old cafe.
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 addition of the coffee and salad bars, the outdoor seating, and the kitchen modifications. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for Band 7. The description is somewhat subjective, using evaluative language like 'beautifully designed' and 'very comfortable' rather than objective reporting of the spatial changes. To improve, focus on describing the layout changes (e.g., the relocation of the kitchen or the expansion of seating) more neutrally and provide a clear summary paragraph that highlights the overall transformation of the space.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the old layout to the new one. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition 'However the new cafe is beautifully designed' is a bit abrupt. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to show contrast or addition more effectively. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be more cohesive to better link the specific features mentioned.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the various features of the cafe. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, such as 'efficiently utilised' and 'convenience'. However, there are some spelling errors ('ehich', 'newly.opemed') and some word choice issues, such as 'whole block' and 'sitting arrangement', which are slightly unnatural in this context. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions and ensuring accurate spelling of key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'All the food and snack space was designed altogether as one while block' and 'there is one bin for trash' (which should be 'there was'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of periods in the middle of phrases like 'A newly.opemed coffee bar'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do prevent the response from reaching a higher band score. More attention to subject-verb agreement and punctuation is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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