Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The two maps detail the major structural changes that took place in College cafe.
Overall, a huge development took place in cafeteria. Outdoor seating is introduced additionally with a barbecue however the kitchen and toilets remain unchanged as before.
Major transformation took place on the outdoor where new seating is introduced along with a barbecue. Some new entrances are also made in the front of seating area and salad bar is installed on the left hand side of one of the major entrance from the outside dining. the kitchen area remains same however the serving area of all food and drink is converted into hot meals area where students can have hot meals.
Before two rooms were allotted as staff dining rooms and are changed into two different sections for instance take away food and coffee bar. Although there is no transformation took place in toilets yet the bin are replaced into recycling bins.
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, including the addition of outdoor seating, the barbecue, and the conversion of the staff dining rooms. You successfully identify the areas that remained unchanged, such as the kitchen and toilets. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview that synthesises the changes effectively. While you mention the 'major transformation', the description of the layout changes could be more precise. For instance, the transition from staff dining rooms to a takeaway and coffee bar is a key feature that is well-noted, but the overall summary could be more cohesive to ensure the reader grasps the full scope of the redesign at a glance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the description. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall', 'Although', and 'for instance', to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions between sentences. For example, the sentence 'Major transformation took place on the outdoor where new seating is introduced' feels slightly disjointed. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'one of the major entrance from the outside dining', which makes the spatial description difficult to visualise. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'structural changes', 'transformation', and 'recycling bins'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'bin are replaced' (should be 'bins are replaced') and 'the outdoor' (should be 'the outdoor area'). The use of 'allotted' is a good attempt at more sophisticated vocabulary, but some phrasing, such as 'remains same' (should be 'remains the same'), is slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring consistent accuracy in word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include missing articles ('in cafeteria', 'in front of seating area'), subject-verb agreement issues ('bin are replaced'), and awkward prepositions ('entrance from the outside dining'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and ensure that your verb tenses remain consistent when describing the changes between the two plans.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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