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 map depicts the changes that took place in a college cafe before and after the redesigned plan.

Overall, the cafe undergone various technological enhancements, and they also included more food varieties with barbecue and outdoor seating arrangements. The seating plan is also improved by allotting a separate space for the staff.

The service area in the old map where all kinds of food and drinks were served are now reduced to only hot meals. The previous sections for take away and cafe bar is now used as dining rooms for staff. The traditional bin is also upgraded to recycling bins.

Additionally, a new section for salad is introduced in the cafe. The cafe used its outside space for outdoor seating with a barbecue in the bottom of the plan.

Conversely, the kitchen, tables and chairs in the centre of the facility remained unchanged. The toilet is still the same without major upgrades.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the new salad section, outdoor seating, and the repurposing of the service area. You have provided a clear overview and made relevant comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. However, the report could be improved by being more precise with spatial descriptions; for instance, stating 'in the bottom of the plan' is less professional than using directional language like 'in the southern section'. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the significant changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information thematically. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Conversely', and 'The previous sections' to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific details. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'they also included' is slightly vague as it is unclear who 'they' refers to in the context of a floor plan.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'technological enhancements', 'repurposing', and 'arrangements'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the cafe undergone' (should be 'has undergone') and 'allotting a separate space', which is slightly unnatural in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, incorporating more precise descriptive language related to architectural changes or spatial layout would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the cafe undergone', 'the previous sections... is now used') and minor prepositional errors. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on ensuring that plural subjects are paired with plural verbs and that verb tenses are used consistently when describing changes that have already occurred.

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

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