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 map below shows that a college cafeteria before it was re-drawn. Next map is the updated one.

First map shows the right side of the map, there's the entrance doors. after entering the cafeteria, on the left side there are toilets. straight ahead of the doors, there are tables and chairs fixed for students can sit there and eat or gossip. on the right hand, there are two rooms for staffs where they can sit and dine. at the end of cafeteria, there's the kitchen. inside the kitchen, there's a serving area, where students are served with food and drinks.

in the next given map, there's much improvement than before. The staff dining rooms are replaced by a coffee bar and a serving room. a salad bar is added where salad is served. two doors are added for an outdoor sitting area. many bins are added too. a barbeque stall is also added.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe plans, identifying key changes such as the addition of the coffee bar, salad bar, and outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. The description is somewhat mechanical and lists features rather than synthesising the information to highlight the transformation. To improve, ensure you provide a clear introductory summary that captures the overall trend of the redesign before detailing specific changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into three paragraphs, which helps with readability. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'First map' and 'in the next given map' are functional but basic. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas within and between sentences. The progression of information is logical, but the flow is somewhat stilted due to the reliance on simple sentence structures and a lack of varied transition signals.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Words like 'added' are used multiple times, which limits the range. There are also some informal choices, such as 'gossip', which is not appropriate for an academic report. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions and changes, such as 'converted', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'installed', rather than relying on simple verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures (e.g., 'there are toilets', 'many bins are added'). There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the staff dining rooms', 'the kitchen'), incorrect pluralisation ('staffs' should be 'staff'), and punctuation issues. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex sentence structures and the frequency of minor errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more complex sentences would demonstrate better control.

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

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