Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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.

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The maps illustrate the changes in a college cafe after re-designed.

Overall, the cafe has undergone significant redevelopment. Staff dining rooms has been removed, while more space allocated to the outdoor seating in the southern part section.

Before redesigning, most of the area was devoted to table and chairs. There was kitchen at upper left corner of cafe with serving area directly below to the kitchen. Staff dining rooms were in central part. Toilet was located in south-east section. Bin was placed just close the toilet.

Since then, the facility has witnessed extensive renovation. The table and chairs remain at central part, but former staff dining rooms has been replaced by a take away food and a coffee bar. In addition, the previous meat serving area has been turned into a hot meal, and kitchen remained in same place. Notably, the former bins has converted into recycling bins and toilets stayed at south-east part. The Barbeque is developed at the south-west side of cafe with large numbers of outdoor seating. Salad bar is located in west side of cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the removal of staff dining rooms and the addition of outdoor seating. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted key changes, which satisfies the requirements of the task. However, the report could be improved by ensuring more precise descriptions of locations; for instance, stating 'upper left corner' is acceptable, but using more formal directional language would enhance the report. Additionally, ensure that all labels from the diagrams are accurately reflected, as some descriptions, like the 'meat serving area' being turned into a 'hot meal', are slightly unclear in their phrasing. Overall, you have covered the key information effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the 'before' and 'after' states. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Before redesigning', 'Since then', and 'In addition' helps to guide the reader through the changes. However, the paragraphing could be more refined, and some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though there are occasional lapses in flow where sentences feel somewhat disconnected. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between the description of the old layout and the new one would elevate the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'renovation', and 'recycling bins'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'The Barbeque is developed' (should be 'installed' or 'constructed') and 'meat serving area has been turned into a hot meal' (a meal is an object, not a location). Additionally, there are minor errors in article usage, such as 'at upper left corner' instead of 'at the upper left corner'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and ensuring correct article usage when describing locations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'Staff dining rooms has been removed' (should be 'have') and 'former bins has converted' (should be 'have been converted'). There are also missing articles, such as 'in central part' and 'at south-east part'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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