Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24

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 picture compares the structure of a cafe before and after redesigning.

The depiction illustrates how a cafe evolved with the passage of time. Now, Kitchen have occupied more space than previous structure with addition of Salad bar and Barbecue while Staff dining rooms are replaced by take away food and coffee bar. Outdoor dining is available now.

Overall, the whole cafe model is modified. The kitchen area for various drinks and meal serving converted into just hot meals serving area. Moreover, a salad bar is also constructed on the west side of cafe. Area for Table and chairs is remain unchanged.

Furthermore, Staff dining rooms are replaced by two separate sections, take away food and a coffee bar. Bin area become enlarged and entitled as Recycling Bin. A space built outside the cafe known as Barbecue area along with the service of outdoor dinning. Toilets are on the exact place with same area as before the redesigning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the expansion of the kitchen, the addition of the salad bar and barbecue area, and the replacement of the staff dining rooms. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, and some details are inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that the table and chair area remained unchanged when the layout clearly shifted. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise and that the overview highlights the most striking transformations rather than just listing changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing specific changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Overall' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of information is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly forced. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more cohesive narrative of the changes observed in the plans.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'redesigning', 'evolved', 'sections', and 'enlarged'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'Kitchen have occupied' (subject-verb agreement issue) and 'entitled as Recycling Bin'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to spatial changes, such as 'reconfigured', 'relocated', or 'transformed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that hinder the flow, including subject-verb agreement issues ('Kitchen have occupied', 'Table and chairs is remain'), missing articles ('on the west side of cafe'), and awkward tense usage ('Bin area become enlarged'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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.