Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 maps depict the transformation of college cafe before proposed developments and at present time.

Overall, a cafe has been modernized considerably, with the addition of new outdoor seating area, a barbecue and a salad bar. The toilets remained at the same place during the redevelopment process.

It is clear from the maps that the area of kitchen is at the same place, only change is serving area is transformed into the hot meals. The staff dining rooms have been replaced with the take away food and a coffee bar. Interestingly toilets has not changed their place throughout the period.

Although, tables and chairs in the center remained untouched, a salad bar is introduced on the left side wall of kitchen area. Bin area has been extended with the recycling bins. Moreover, a separate outdoor seating space has been added to enjoy the weather, with a barbecue to the cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of the salad bar, barbecue, and outdoor seating. You successfully identified the areas that remained unchanged, such as the kitchen and toilets. However, the report could be improved by providing more precise spatial descriptions. For example, stating 'left side wall of kitchen area' is helpful, but the overall summary lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the layout changes. While all key features are mentioned, the description of the 'serving area' transformation is slightly vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are explicitly linked to the 'before' and 'after' states with greater clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'It is clear from the maps', and 'Moreover' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the connection between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition 'Although, tables and chairs...' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'modernized', 'redevelopment', and 'transformation'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'take away food' (should be 'takeaway area') and 'enjoy the weather' (which is slightly informal for an academic report). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to architectural changes and layout descriptions, and ensure that your terminology remains formal throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly impede the flow, such as 'the area of kitchen is at the same place' (missing articles), 'toilets has not changed' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'with a barbecue to the cafe' (awkward prepositional usage). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the information, they are frequent enough to limit the score. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of prepositions when describing locations.

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

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