Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-21
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 diagram depicts a college cafeteria before it was redevelopment and how it looks in present time.
Overall, there are lots of amenities available such as salad bar, coffee bar, recycling bins, barbecue, which were not present before. Moreover, outdoor seating area develops in present time.
To begin with, the serving place for all food and drink on the north side is completely replaced by hot meals. In addition, staff dining rooms opposite to serving area is divide into two different zone first is coffee bar and second is take away food zone. Furthermore, bin on the east side converted into recycling bins.
Moreover, new salad bar constructed on the west side of cafe, which was not present in past. Additionally, outdoor seating develops on the south side of cafeteria, which was not present before redesign. Furthermore, barbecue bar is available on the west southern corner. However, some place such as kitchen, toilets, and seating area in middle are unchanged.
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 new salad bar, the coffee bar, and the outdoor seating. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the most significant transformations. While the main features are reported, the description of the layout changes is occasionally imprecise, such as referring to the 'serving place' rather than specific functional areas. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview highlights the most striking changes (e.g., the shift from a single serving area to specialized zones) rather than just listing amenities. The response is accurate in its reporting of the visual data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing specific changes. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, 'bin on the east side' lacks a clear antecedent, and the transition between the description of the serving area and the bins feels abrupt. The overall progression of information is logical, but the flow could be improved by varying the cohesive structures and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'amenities' and 'redesign'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'before it was redevelopment' (should be 'redeveloped') and 'develops in present time' (should be 'was developed'). The repetition of phrases like 'which was not present before' limits the range of expression. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise verbs to describe spatial changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice construction, such as 'is divide into' (should be 'is divided into') and 'new salad bar constructed' (should be 'was constructed'). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are also inconsistent. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To achieve a higher score, the student needs to demonstrate better control over passive voice structures, which are essential for describing processes and changes in diagrams, and ensure consistent tense usage throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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