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 rendered map depicts the information about the layout of cafe has changed over time .

Overall, the cafe has been modernised . A kitchen , coffee bar, takeaway section and outdoor seating have been added,while the old serving area and staff dining room have been removed.

Firstly, the serving area became a kitchen with hot meals counter. Staff dining rooms have been replaced with take away food and coffee bar.

Secondly, outdoor seating was added at the front of cafe. The barbecue and saladbar added to the left side of the cafe .Table and chairs remains the stable at the same position . There is no any changes in the postion of recycling bin and toilets .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the redesign, such as the addition of the kitchen and outdoor seating, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the response. You have attempted to compare the 'before' and 'after' states, but the analysis is limited. To improve, you should aim to describe the changes with more precision, perhaps by mentioning the specific locations or the scale of the modifications, and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to sequence your points. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the paragraphing is a bit disjointed due to the brevity of the text. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. The transition between the general overview and the specific details could also be smoother to improve the overall logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'modernised', 'redesigned', and 'layout'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'remains the stable at the same position' and 'There is no any changes'. These errors occasionally hinder the clarity of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns related to spatial changes would also help you convey the information more effectively and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The rendered map depicts the information about the layout of cafe has changed' (missing articles and incorrect clause structure) and 'The barbecue and saladbar added' (missing auxiliary verb). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.