Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22

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 6.0)

The given two maps compares a college cafe before and after it was redesigned.

Overall, we can see that after the renovation the staff dining area was transformed into a coffee bar and take away food room. A salad bar was introduced. Amount of waste bins was increased. Outdoor seating area with live barbecue was also constructed.

In the first map we see a simple college cafe. After entering the cafe you had a restroom and a trash bin on your left. Straight ahead, there was the dining room for the workers of the cafe. Crossing that, you would get the serving counter and the kitchen on the right side. The rest of the area had tables and chairs for siting.

The first map had a lot of vacant area that was put to use after the redesign. Once, you enter the cafe you will see more bins. The staff area is completely changed into a coffee bar and room for take away food. Now, you also have a salad at the end of the main gallery. South from the salad bar you will find a door that will lead you to the new barbecue setting having outdoor seating.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the conversion of the staff dining area into a coffee bar and the addition of the outdoor barbecue area. You have provided a clear overview and supported it with specific details from the diagrams. However, the response could be improved by using more precise comparative language. For instance, instead of saying 'a lot of vacant area', you could describe the specific layout changes more analytically. You have covered all parts of the task well, and the information is logically selected to highlight the most significant transformations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the 'before' and 'after' states. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these timeframes. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first map', 'After entering', and 'South from the salad bar' help guide the reader through the spatial layout. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'renovation', 'transformed', 'introduced', and 'vacant area'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'take away food room' (better as 'takeaway area') and 'barbecue setting' (better as 'barbecue area'). While you demonstrate an adequate range for the task, the vocabulary is somewhat functional rather than sophisticated. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to architectural or spatial descriptions, such as 'reconfigured', 'extended', or 'designated area'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'The given two maps compares' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'Amount of waste bins was increased' (missing article 'The'). Additionally, 'siting' is a spelling error for 'sitting'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. You have attempted some complex structures, but the control over them is inconsistent. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy and move you toward a higher band.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.