Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17
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 plan illustrates the changes in a college cafe before and after it was refurbished.
Overall, we can see a few major and minor changes. The most notable ones being the outdoor seating area barbecue area.
Before the redesign the cafe was mostly operated inside the building. There was a separate area for staffs to find while the kitchen served all food and drinks from one place.
Whereas, looking at it now it seems there are separate areas for food and drinks like the addition of salad stand, and changing the staff dining room to take away food and coffee bar area. The most notable difference seems to be outside as they added outdoor seating and barbecue area. Upon further inspection there was a addition of two more doors for easy access to outdoor area. Furthermore, the toilets remained unchanged with the recycling bin staying at the same place just in a bigger area.
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 redesign, including the new outdoor area and the reconfiguration of the interior. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the mention of 'a few major and minor changes' is vague, and the report lacks precise detail regarding the spatial layout or the specific relocation of features. While the key changes are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, you should focus on providing a more detailed breakdown of the spatial changes, such as the specific shift in the kitchen's orientation or the exact placement of the new service counters.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the overview to the specific details. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Whereas', 'Furthermore', and 'Upon further inspection', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as 'the recycling bin staying at the same place just in a bigger area', which is a bit confusing given the visual information. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some relevant terms like 'refurbished', 'redesign', and 'reconfiguration'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'separate area for staffs to find' (likely meaning 'staff to dine') and 'addition of salad stand'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to architectural changes and spatial layout, and ensure that collocations are used more accurately to convey your meaning with greater precision.
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 errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'The most notable ones being the outdoor seating area barbecue area' is a sentence fragment. Additionally, there are issues with article usage ('the addition of salad stand') and pluralisation ('area for staffs'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would greatly enhance the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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