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 provided pictures shows us the architectural view of the college canteen before and after of its reconstruction.
Overall, the area occupied by the canteen is still the same. Inside the Cafe , it is redesigned like some of the serving area are still having their place but many new area like salad bar at the mid of left wall, barbecue area is built at outside of the Cafe but parallel to salad bar and many other options are introduced.
Firstly, the Kitchen area is on the same place. The previous area located for serving area in now converted into Hot meals. Then outside of kitchen's door there was a huge dinning hall, had chairs and tables, remain same but the salad Bar is launch at the left side of Canteen wall. The Staff dining Rooms is now redesign and converted into Take away food and Coffee bar.
Continue with the Refreshment Rooms and Recycling areas, they are never rebuilt. New advanced areas are invented at the outer side of canteen which is outdoor seating and BBQ area which is along with the side of salad bar.
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 provides a general overview of the changes, but it lacks a clear, analytical summary of the main features. While you mention the canteen area remains the same, the description of the layout is somewhat confusing and lacks precision. For instance, stating 'the Kitchen area is on the same place' is accurate, but the description of the 'salad bar' and 'barbecue area' is repetitive and lacks a clear spatial relationship to the rest of the cafe. To improve, ensure you clearly contrast the 'before' and 'after' states using comparative language rather than listing features in a disjointed manner. More focus on the overall transformation would help achieve a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Continue with the' and 'Then outside of kitchen's door' feel unnatural and do not effectively link the ideas. The progression of information is somewhat disjointed, making it difficult to visualize the changes clearly. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as one paragraph for internal changes and another for external additions, rather than jumping between them.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'the previous area located for serving area in now converted' and 'New advanced areas are invented'. The word 'invented' is inappropriate in this context; 'introduced' or 'added' would be better. Additionally, there are minor errors in collocation, such as 'at the mid of left wall'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing architectural changes, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'replaced'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The provided pictures shows us' (subject-verb agreement), 'before and after of its reconstruction' (preposition error), and 'the salad Bar is launch' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization (e.g., 'Cafe', 'Bar'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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