Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The plans illustrate the changes made to a college cafe and its redesign, comparing its layout with current arrangement.

Overall, it is evident that the cafe used to have staff dining rooms, which currently was transformed into food take way and coffee bar.In the redesign, the cafe introduced outdoor seating with barbecue for the customers.

To begin with, cafe used to lack the presence of a salad bar, which got introduced on the leftmost side of the cafe. Moreover, the serving area present next to the kitchen got a makeover and changed into hot meals section. The staff dining rooms got converted into takeaway food area and a coffee bar.

Subsequently, outdoor seating was introduced in the cafe alongside a barbecue. Meanwhile, the central indoor space remains occupied by the regular tables and chairs. Finally, the standard bin previously located on the right side near the toilets was enlarged and replaced with a set of recycling bins.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the introduction of the salad bar, the conversion of the staff dining rooms, and the addition of outdoor seating. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant changes. However, the report could be improved by providing more precise spatial descriptions; for instance, stating exactly where the new features are located relative to the original layout would enhance the clarity. The summary is accurate, but it lacks a slightly more analytical tone that would elevate it to a higher band. Overall, all parts of the task are addressed, and the key information is presented effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'Subsequently', and 'Meanwhile' helps to guide the reader through the changes in a structured manner. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different areas of the cafe. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas from the interior changes to the exterior additions is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is sufficient to describe the changes, with terms like 'redesign', 'converted', 'layout', and 'arrangement'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'food take way' (should be 'takeaway') and 'hot meals section' (could be more formal). The range is adequate for the task, but it lacks the more sophisticated or precise terminology that would be expected at a higher band level. The student manages to convey the meaning clearly, and the errors do not impede communication, but the lexical range remains somewhat limited to basic descriptive terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'which currently was transformed' (tense inconsistency) and 'cafe used to lack' (missing article 'the'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'food take way' and the lack of a space after the period in the second paragraph. While the student attempts to use complex structures, the control is not entirely consistent. However, the errors are generally minor and do not prevent the reader from understanding the information provided.

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

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