Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23
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 given diagrams illustrate the differences between how the college cafe look before and after the redesign. The cafe is divided into many compartments as shown in diagrams. The one think which must keep in mind is that the map of cafe unchanged but some changing taken place to make the cafe modern, update and beautiful.
Following are the areas that replaced into different areas such as staff dining room, serving area are converted into hot meals, take away food and coffee bar respectively. On the other hand, some areas remain same for instance: kitchen, toilets, tables and chairs.
Moreover, some things are updated just like bin is changed into recycling bin. There is also addition of things taken place for example: salad bar, barbecue and outdoor seating. It is a modern design of cafe that people can feel relax, enjoy fresh air and become more comfortable in outdoor seating. Customers can see how the barbecue cook in front of them.
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 identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the conversion of the staff dining area and the addition of outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes. The description is somewhat fragmented, and the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is not fully developed. While the key features are mentioned, the lack of a cohesive summary of the overall transformation limits the score. To improve, ensure you provide a clear introductory overview that highlights the most striking changes, such as the modernization and expansion of the facility.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'On the other hand' is present but occasionally feels forced or incorrectly applied to the context of describing a map. The progression of information is logical, but the internal structure of the sentences sometimes hinders the overall flow. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., referring back to specific parts of the cafe more clearly) and ensuring smoother transitions between the description of static areas and new additions would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'some changing taken place' and 'one think which must keep in mind'. The use of vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, and some word choices are not entirely natural in an academic context (e.g., 'update and beautiful'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions and architectural changes, and work on collocations to ensure the language sounds more professional and academic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the college cafe look' (subject-verb agreement), 'the map of cafe unchanged' (missing verb), and 'addition of things taken place' (awkward construction). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often simplistic. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Increasing the variety of sentence structures while ensuring accuracy will help in achieving a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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