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 Plans illustrates the changes made to a college cafe before and after it was redesigned.
Overall, the cafe has been significantly modernised. The main changes include the removal of the staff dinning rooms, the introduction of seperate takeaway and coffe areas, and changes to the seating arrangement. however the kitchen has remained in the same locations.
Before the redesign. the kitchen situated in the upper left-corner of the cafe, with a serving area for hot and food and drinks directly below it. In the centre of the cafe, there were two small staff dinning rooms, each containing a table and chairs. The remaining large area was occupied by table and chairs for customers. Toilets were located in the button right corner, the entrance was on the right hand side.
After the redesign, the kitchen remained in the upper left corner, but the serving area was replaced by a area for hot meals. The two staff dining room were removed, creating more open space. In their place, facilities for the take way food and coffee were added along the upper section of the cafe.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the removal of staff rooms and the addition of new service areas. You provide a clear overview and compare the 'before' and 'after' states effectively. However, the response is incomplete; it ends abruptly while describing the new layout, failing to mention the changes to the seating area or the toilets, which were significant features in the original plan. To reach a higher band, you must ensure all key features are covered and the report is brought to a logical conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Before the redesign' and 'After the redesign' to signal the shift in time. However, there are some issues with punctuation and sentence structure that occasionally disrupt the flow, such as the sentence fragment 'however the kitchen has remained in the same locations.' Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending makes the overall structure feel unfinished. Improving the transition between sentences and ensuring a complete conclusion would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modernised', 'redesigned', and 'seating arrangement'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'dinning' (dining), 'seperate' (separate), 'coffe' (coffee), and 'take way' (takeaway). Additionally, 'button right corner' is a misuse of 'bottom'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and attention to common spelling patterns in academic writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, 'The Plans illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'Before the redesign. the kitchen' (incorrect full stop usage), and 'a area' (article error). There are also missing commas and inconsistent capitalization. While these errors rarely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and basic punctuation rules will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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