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 compare 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 takeaway food room. A salad bar was introduced. The number of waste bins was increased. An 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 sitting.

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 takeaway food. Now, you also have a salad bar 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

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the conversion of the staff area and the addition of the outdoor seating. You provide a clear overview and support your points with specific details from the diagrams. However, the response could be improved by using more precise comparative language. For instance, instead of saying 'the first map had a lot of vacant area', you could describe the spatial changes more analytically. You have covered all parts of the task well, and your summary is accurate and easy to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the 'before' and 'after' states. You use cohesive devices such as 'In the first map', 'After entering', and 'Now' to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related information. To reach a higher band, ensure that transitions between sentences are slightly more varied to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel in the progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'renovation', 'transformed', 'constructed', and 'vacant area'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to spatial descriptions, such as 'reconfigured', 'adjacent to', or 'situated in the corner'. While your current vocabulary is functional, it lacks the sophistication and variety required for the higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'After entering the cafe you had a restroom and a trash bin on your left.' While there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'South from the salad bar you will find a door that will lead you to the new barbecue setting having outdoor seating' (which is slightly awkward), the errors do not impede communication. Your control of tense is generally consistent, effectively contrasting the past state with the current layout.

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

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