Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given maps compare the redesigned layout of a collage cafeteria with the pre-designed layout.

Overall, the cafe has been refurnished and modernized by expanding the sitting area, while keeping the locations of the kitchen area and toilets intact. Moreover, a variety of food has been introduced at certain designated spaces, along with the takeaway facility.

The cafeteria had a huge area designated to the kitchen at the north-west side, which has been retained in the new design. Moreover, toilets and waste area have largely remained unchanged, except for one improvement: regular bins being replaced by recycling bins near the entrance.

Meanwhile, the staff dining rooms have been removed and replaced by take away food corner and a coffee bar. Additionally, two food stalls, salad bar inside the cafeteria and a barbeque corner outside by adding a south-west exit, have been constructed. This expansion has majorly provided an outside seating facility to the users.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the expansion of the seating area, the addition of new food stalls, and the retention of the kitchen and toilets. You have provided a clear overview and supported it with specific details from the plans. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly mention all significant changes, such as the relocation of the entrance or the specific shift in the seating layout, to ensure a more comprehensive summary of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'Meanwhile', and 'Additionally' helps to guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different aspects of the redesign. The progression of ideas is smooth, although some transitions could be slightly more varied to avoid a mechanical feel in the structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'refurnished', 'modernized', and 'designated'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'collage' instead of 'college' and 'take away food corner' which could be phrased more naturally. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise collocations related to architectural changes would enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'outside seating facility to the users' (which would be better as 'for users') and 'a barbeque corner outside by adding a south-west exit' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). However, these errors do not impede communication, and your control over punctuation and sentence structure is generally good.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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