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 pictures demonstrate the design of a college cafe. How it looks earlier and the changes after redesigning.
Before redesigning, there was a kitchen in the north-east direction along with the serving area where all kinds of foods and drinks were served. The sitting arrangement was made in the middle of the cafe where tables and chairs were placed. Moving further, staff dining rooms were constructed between the northern and southern direction. The toilets were made in the south-east direction of a cafe, and a bin was placed above the washroom area.
After redesigning a cafe, considerable changes can be seen. The area which was earlier occupied for serving is now replaced with hot meals. The place meant for staff dining rooms is now modified into two sections, one for take away food and other one for coffee bar. The salad bar is opened in the western direction of a cafe. The number of recycling bins are increased as per the new design of a cafe. Moreover, a barbecue is opened in the south-west directions and more outdoor seating arrangements are made in the southern direction of a cafe.
Overall, the number of significant changes is made in a college cafe after redesigning it.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 plans, identifying key changes such as the relocation of the kitchen, the addition of a salad bar, and the expansion of seating. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it simply states that 'significant changes' were made without summarizing the nature of these changes (e.g., the shift toward more diverse food options and outdoor seating). While the response addresses the prompt, the description of locations is occasionally imprecise, such as describing the staff dining room as being between the 'northern and southern direction,' which is confusing. A more analytical approach to the spatial changes would improve the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the 'before' and 'after' states, and a brief conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Before redesigning,' 'Moving further,' and 'Moreover' are used to guide the reader. However, the referencing is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The transition between the description of the original layout and the new layout is clear, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could benefit from more varied linking words to avoid a repetitive list-like feel.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the layout changes. You successfully use terms like 'occupied,' 'modified,' and 'arrangements.' However, there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary. Phrases like 'the number of recycling bins are increased' and 'a barbecue is opened' are functional but basic. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations related to architectural changes, such as 'converted into,' 'reconfigured,' or 'extended.' There are no significant spelling errors, but the range of vocabulary remains somewhat limited.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'How it looks earlier' is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. There are also issues with article usage and prepositions, such as 'in the north-east direction' (should be 'in the north-east') and 'the number of recycling bins are increased' (should be 'has increased'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. More attention to subject-verb agreement and prepositional accuracy is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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