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 provided figures illustrates how a college cafe used to look like and how it looks now after renovation.
Overall, there is significant change in the design of the cafe. Before redesign there is only one counter for all foods and drinks whereas now it has seperate section for food and drinks. After redesign, they have also included outdoor siting, however some places are in same location.
Firstly, before renovation there is only one counter for providing all kind of food and drinks but after redesigned they have made several counters. There used to be a dining room for staff which they have removed and replaced it with take away food and coffee bar. They also introduced a seperate section for hot meals and salad bar.
Another major change is outdoor sitting and a live barbecue setup which they have included in resigning. Other than this Toilets, bins and the kitchen is in same place. Tables and chairs for sitting indoor is also in same location.
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, such as the changes to the counter layout, the removal of the staff room, and the addition of outdoor seating. However, the response lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that there is a 'significant change', you could improve by highlighting the shift from a single-purpose layout to a more diversified, customer-focused space. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly repetitive, and you could provide more precise comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states to better meet the requirements for a Band 7 or higher.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of your ideas. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Another major change', and 'Other than this' to link your points. However, the flow is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between sentences could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'they', 'this') is always clear. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall structure would benefit from more sophisticated cohesive links to connect the 'before' and 'after' states more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes clearly. You use relevant terms like 'renovation', 'counter', and 'live barbecue setup'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'outdoor siting' (should be 'seating') and 'resigning' (likely meant 'redesigning'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise, academic vocabulary to describe spatial changes and avoid repetitive phrasing. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'change' and 'add' would also be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'The provided figures illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error), 'used to look like' (should be 'what the cafe looked like'), and 'before redesign there is' (tense inconsistency). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and maintaining consistent verb tenses when describing past and present states. Increasing the variety of complex 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.
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