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 two provided schemes illustrate how the cafe in the specific college has changed after its redesign.

Overall, the interior of the cafeteria experienced significant changes. It was expanded and many new areas were added, such as outdoor seating, barbecue zone and separated zones for each type of meal.

The kitchen remained in the same room, but the serving area was intended only for hot meals, and the salad bar was placed in the western part of the building. Two staff dining rooms in the upper part of the plan were replaced by a zone for food to go and a coffee bar.

As regards conveniences for visitors, a new seating zone near the barbecue outside the cafe was created with the two new doors outside. A few recycling bins were added to the only bin which was there before reconstruction. The only thing which remained the same were toilets.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the expansion, the addition of outdoor seating, and the reconfiguration of the kitchen and service areas. You have also made relevant comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a more detailed overview in the introduction. While you mentioned 'significant changes,' specifying the nature of these changes (e.g., the shift from a single dining area to a more segmented, multi-functional space) would provide a stronger summary. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from an overview to specific details about the kitchen, service areas, and visitor amenities. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these distinct themes. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'As regards' and 'The only thing which remained the same,' which help guide the reader. To improve, try to vary your linking words further and ensure that the transition between the kitchen area and the visitor facilities is slightly smoother to avoid a list-like feel in the final paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redesign,' 'reconstruction,' and 'conveniences.' The language is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. However, there are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'specific college' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'barbecue zone' (which might be better described as an 'outdoor dining area'). To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations related to spatial changes and facility upgrades to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your grammar is generally accurate. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are a few minor errors, such as 'the only bin which was there before reconstruction' (which could be more concisely phrased) and 'the two new doors outside' (which is slightly ambiguous). The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a positive sign. To aim for a higher band, try to incorporate more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions to describe the changes in the layout more formally.

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

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