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 illustration illustrates a cafe before its renovation and after the redesign.
So there are several changes take place in the cafe after its renovation to expand its area and services. To improve cafe seating capacity, new outdoor seating area is introduced. To increase their food services, barbecue section is opened at the left side of outdoor seating. Before, there was bin for trash which is transformed into recycling bins. For organic food, salad bar is also started at the left side of hall.
Before modification, there were dining rooms for employee, which is converted into take away area and coffee bar. So customers can easily place their food order and take away with them. Coffee bar is also a great development to enjoy different kind of coffees. So many section of food and drink opened for public. In the place of serving area for food and drink, fast food corner for hot meals launched. Just kitchen area remained same as it was.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of outdoor seating, the barbecue section, and the conversion of the dining room. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. The description is somewhat fragmented, focusing on individual items rather than synthesizing the information into a coherent comparison. While the key changes are identified, the response would benefit from a more structured approach that groups related features together to provide a clearer picture of the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'So' to start sentences, which is informal and lacks variety. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast'). While the paragraphing is present, the logical connection between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more effectively managed to guide the reader through the changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'area', 'section', and 'food'. While the student attempts to describe the changes using terms like 'renovation', 'redesign', and 'modification', the overall lexical range is limited. There are also minor issues with collocation, such as 'started at the left side' instead of 'located on the left side'. To improve, the student should focus on using more descriptive verbs and nouns related to spatial changes and facility upgrades.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'new outdoor seating area is introduced' should be 'a new outdoor seating area'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'there are several changes take place'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'take away with them'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall fluency of the text. A greater focus on accurate article usage and consistent verb tense application would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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