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 looked before and after the redesign. The cafe is divided into many compartments as shown in the diagrams. The one thing which must be kept in mind is that the map of the cafe remained same but some changes have taken place to make the cafe modern, updated 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 covers the main features of the redesign, such as the conversion of the staff dining room and serving area, and the addition of new facilities like the barbecue and outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band. The description of the layout is somewhat fragmented, and the student includes subjective commentary (e.g., 'people can feel relax') which is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. The focus should remain strictly on the objective data presented in the diagrams rather than speculating on the customers' feelings or the aesthetic quality of the design.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover' and 'On the other hand', they are sometimes used mechanically or inaccurately. For instance, the phrase 'Following are the areas that replaced into different areas' is confusing and does not effectively link the information. The referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes described in the diagrams. Improved paragraph structure and more precise linking words would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'replaced into different areas' and 'addition of things taken place'. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'updated' and 'beautiful' rather than more specific terminology related to architectural or layout changes. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated or precise vocabulary limits the score. To improve, the student should focus on using more academic collocations and precise verbs to describe changes in a layout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the map of the cafe remained same' (missing 'the'), 'some things are updated just like bin is changed' (article usage), and 'how the barbecue cook in front of them' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often clunky. The student needs to work on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately to avoid confusion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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