Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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 illustrate a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks in present.

Overall, the several changes was occurred in cafe after redesigning it, however, some places were remained unchanged throughout the process.

Looking in the plans, kitchen was unchanged, although, the serving area where all food and drinks were served was replaced with hot meals compartment top left to the table and chairs. Moreover, the salad bar left to the table and chair was demolished under the process. Also, a whole new area was introduced below the table and chair with barbecue and a facility of outdoor seating.

Furthermore, top of the tables and chair where staff dining rooms were present was replaced by take away food and coffee bar compartments. The bins at the right of table and chairs were redeveloped into recycle bins. Additionally the toilets below the bins were remain unchanged throughout the renovation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the kitchen, serving areas, and new facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the transformation. While the main changes are identified, the spatial relationships are occasionally confusing, such as the description of the 'hot meals compartment' and the 'salad bar'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping information more logically—perhaps by contrasting areas that remained the same with those that were completely repurposed—rather than simply listing changes in the order they appear on the map.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Additionally' to link ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes disjointed. For instance, the transition between the kitchen and the new outdoor area feels abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as 'left to the table and chair', which makes it difficult for the reader to visualise the layout. Improving the use of cohesive devices to show contrast and spatial relationships would enhance the flow significantly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'table and chairs' and 'compartments'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'the several changes was occurred' and 'demolished under the process'. To improve, try to use more precise verbs related to map descriptions, such as 'relocated', 'converted', 'expanded', or 'integrated'. Using a wider range of vocabulary to describe spatial changes will help you achieve a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include 'the several changes was occurred' (incorrect passive voice/tense), 'how it looks in present' (incorrect preposition), and 'toilets below the bins were remain unchanged' (incorrect verb form). While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these errors. You need to focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing processes and changes in diagrams. Proofreading for basic tense consistency would also be very beneficial.

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

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