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 maps present information about college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, it is evident that cafe was underwent significant transformation and some new areas are construct such as, a new outdoor seating are construct and a few areas are relocated.
Cafe before redesign, there was one big tables and chairs area and the west side of the map there was one bin area and beside of the bin area there was one toilet. In the center there were two staff dining rooms.
Today, the cafe is fully develop with some new constructed area. Outside of cafe one new barbecue has been open and some outdoor seating have been establish and the main changes is staff dining rooms are demolished and take away food and coffee bar have been construct. Kitchen is stand with same place but the front of kitchen there was one serving area for all food and drink but now it is replace by hot meals and the bin area develop.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview of the changes, identifying the main features such as the removal of the staff dining rooms and the addition of the barbecue and outdoor seating. However, the description of the layout changes is somewhat imprecise. For instance, stating 'kitchen is stand with same place' is vague, and the description of the serving area is confusing. While the main features are covered, the lack of precise spatial language (e.g., 'north-east corner' or 'adjacent to') makes it difficult for the reader to visualize the transformation accurately. To improve, focus on using more specific directional language and ensuring all key changes are described with greater clarity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to an overview and then into specific details. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Cafe before redesign' and 'Today, the cafe is fully develop' lack necessary articles and proper linking words to create a smooth flow. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when describing the location of the bin area and the serving area. While there is a basic structure, the lack of sophisticated linking words and occasional awkward transitions limit the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are frequent errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'are construct' instead of 'were constructed', 'fully develop' instead of 'fully developed', and 'is stand' instead of 'remains in the same place'. These errors occasionally make the text repetitive or slightly unnatural. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more varied vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'demolished', 'renovated', 'relocated', or 'converted', and ensure correct verb forms are used consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'cafe was underwent', 'outdoor seating have been establish') and missing articles (e.g., 'the west side', 'the kitchen') are persistent. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors in tense and passive voice construction are noticeable. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors impacts the overall fluency of the writing. Focusing on basic sentence construction and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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