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The given picture compares a college cafe that how it looks now as compared to how it was originally made.
Overall, massive improvements done to this cafe. Although, the cafe was looking better after the renovation and the outdoor sitting were also introduced after the changes.
To begin with, the cafe occupies more space after the changes as outdoor sitting were introduced along side with the Barbecue space. Moreover, new entrances and exits were also built and the Salad bar were are introduced in the cafe at the tables and chairs space. However, Kitchen and Toilets remained at the same place as it were originally built.
Furthermore, Serving area were replaced by Hot meals section. The Staff dining rooms were rebuild as two different areas including Take away food and the Coffee bar. Although, Bin area were reconstruct and now used for Recycling
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 cafe redesign, the summary is quite brief and lacks the necessary depth to fully develop the comparison. You have correctly noted the additions (outdoor seating, barbecue, salad bar) and the areas that remained unchanged (kitchen, toilets). However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed overview and reach the minimum word count to allow for a comprehensive summary of the visual data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. While you use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore', the connections between ideas feel somewhat mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'Salad bar were are introduced in the cafe at the tables and chairs space'. Improving the transition between sentences and ensuring that pronouns and references clearly point to the intended subjects will help improve the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision expected at higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'made', 'built', and 'introduced'. There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'massive improvements done' (should be 'have been made') and 'Bin area were reconstruct' (should be 'reconstructed'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded'. Focusing on accurate word forms and collocations will significantly enhance your lexical profile.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement and passive voice construction. For example, you wrote 'outdoor sitting were introduced' (should be 'was') and 'Salad bar were are introduced'. Additionally, 'Kitchen and Toilets remained at the same place as it were originally built' contains a pronoun agreement error. While you attempt some complex structures, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar limits the clarity of your writing. Focusing on consistent subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage in passive constructions will be essential for improving your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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