Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
the map represent the layout of the reconstruction of college cafe in the past and present.
in the past , in the North -west direction, there was a kitchen behind the kitchen there was serving area which include all food and drinks. in the South -east ,there were toilets near to toilets there was a bin. in the centre of cafe there were tables and chairs .in the North direction there was dining room for staff.
in the present, kitchen, table and chairs and toilets area remain at same place . the bin area is increased in size. the place of dining room for staff is converted into take away food and coffee . in the West direction , salad bar is made. barbecue area id built in South - west the side . the serving area for all food and drinks are converted into hot meals. outside the cafe in South direction, outdoor seating is made.
overall , it can be said there are many changes happen in college cafe the barbecue , salad bar , outer door seating, take away and food bar areas is built in present than past.
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
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, identifying key changes such as the addition of the barbecue area, salad bar, and outdoor seating. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant transformations. While the student mentions that many changes occurred, the summary could be more precise by highlighting the shift from a purely functional layout to one with more diverse dining options. The report is accurate in its identification of the spatial changes, but it lacks the sophisticated synthesis required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from the past layout to the present changes and concluding with an overview. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'in the past', 'in the present', and 'in the centre' are used as mechanical signposts rather than creating a smooth flow of information. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the lack of varied linking words makes the text feel somewhat disjointed. Improved use of referencing (e.g., 'this area', 'the former location') would enhance the overall cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on simple, repetitive terms such as 'made', 'built', and 'converted'. There is little attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary to describe spatial changes (e.g., 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', 'integrated'). Some errors in word choice and collocation occur, such as 'outer door seating' instead of 'outdoor seating' and 'barbecue area id built' (a typo). To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more descriptive language related to architectural changes and spatial relationships.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('the map represent', 'in North-west direction'), incorrect verb forms ('changes happen' instead of 'changes have happened'), and punctuation errors (inconsistent spacing around commas). The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying heavily on 'there was/were' constructions. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors and the limited range of grammatical structures prevent the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.