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 map illustrates the renovation of college cafe before and after , after construction new developments are noteworthy.
Overall main table and chair area remain the same at the previous position ,no remarkable change is observable in the location of kitchen, bins and toilets there remain in there original position .
However certain sustainable developments are seen in entire infrastructure such as staff dining rooms were replaced by take way food and coffee bar, additional door have attached with table and chair area one is for entrance and other to exit, salad bar also occupies the space of table and chairs, moreover serving area is replaced by hot meals.
One the other site of the cafe new developments are considerable such as installments of Barbecue with outdoor seating space for consumers which include five tables, three with 6 chairs each and two tables along with four chair ,the new door attached with mail hall bring us to outdoor seating area where food is barbecue is served.
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 renovation, including the structural changes and the addition of the outdoor seating area. You successfully identified the key differences, such as the replacement of the staff dining room and the addition of the barbecue area. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is essential for a high band score. Additionally, some details, such as the specific number of chairs, are slightly over-detailed, while the overall 'before and after' comparison could be more analytical. To improve, ensure you group information logically to highlight the transformation rather than just listing changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'One the other site of the cafe'. The flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed, and the referencing (e.g., 'there remain in there original position') is unclear. To improve, use a wider range of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly and ensure that pronouns clearly refer back to the intended nouns. The paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate the internal changes from the external ones.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'renovation', 'infrastructure', and 'installments'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'take way food' (takeaway), 'additional door have attached' (doors were added), and 'on the other site' (side). These errors do not prevent understanding, but they limit the precision of your report. To reach a higher band, focus on using more accurate collocations and ensuring correct spelling of technical terms related to floor plans.
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 affect the quality of the writing. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('additional door have attached'), missing articles ('the' before 'main table'), and incorrect preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences that make the text harder to read. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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