Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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 provided images illustrate the changes in the layout of a college cafe before and after its redesign.

Overall, the college cafe has undergone a significant redevelopment. The cafe area has been extended with an addition of several features such as a salad bar, outdoor seating, barbecue counter and a coffee bar. Staff dining rooms have been removed, while toilets, kitchen and meal area have remained the same.

Before redesign, there was only one entry point. The kitchen and serving area including all types of food and drink was located in the north-west corner of the cafe, while there were two staff dining rooms, each with a table and six chairs in the north side. A bin was placed inside near the entrance of cafe and a block of toilets was located on the left side of bin.

Currently, cafe design has been changed noticeably with an extended area in the south side for outdoor seating with tables and chairs and a barbecue station in the left side. Two staff dining rooms have been transformed into take away food counter and a coffee bar, while the tables and chairs, toilets and kitchen remained unchanged. A single bin has been replaced by a recycling bin and serving area has been replaced by hot meals. There are three main entry points in the college cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the key features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of new facilities and the removal of staff rooms. You provided a clear overview and made relevant comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. To reach a higher band, ensure you avoid minor inaccuracies; for example, you mentioned the kitchen remained unchanged, but the plans show the serving area was modified to include a hot meals section. Additionally, ensure all features mentioned in the prompt are accurately reflected in your description. Overall, the response is well-structured and covers the main trends effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that contrast the past and present layouts. You use cohesive devices such as 'before redesign', 'currently', and 'while' to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general overview from the specific details. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices further to avoid repetitive sentence structures, as some transitions feel slightly mechanical. However, the progression of ideas is clear throughout the text, making it easy to follow the changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'transformed', and 'entry point'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'addition of several features' (better: 'the addition of several features') and 'in the left side' (better: 'on the left side'). While you successfully convey the information, the vocabulary is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, incorporate more precise descriptive language related to spatial layout and architectural changes to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('a bin was placed inside near the entrance of cafe') and minor prepositional errors ('in the north side' should be 'on the north side'). Despite these errors, they do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout. To achieve a higher score, focus on consistent article usage and refining your prepositional phrases. Your control over sentence structure is generally good, but increasing the variety of complex sentences would further enhance your score.

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

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