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 given diagram depicts the changes in the college cafe infrastructure.
Overall, the cafe has undergone some enormous changes with increased facilities for students and faculty.
Initially talking about kitchen it stands where it was but the serving area in front of the kitchen is now replaced with hot meals area. Th area reserved for the tables and chairs was enormous and some sections are also added for different food variety such as a salad bar. It also includes option of food take away for people who don't want to sit in the cafe and enjoy their food somewhere else. The bins placed in the east corner are now replaced with recycling bins promoting environment protection. The toilets are at right to the bins just where they were before the redesign.
Additional outdoor seating is also also added for individuals wanting to sit in the fresh air with a live barbecue section in the front giving an eye-catching view.
The comparisons made are highly justifiable providing different options rather than just boring food.
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 cafe redesign, such as the kitchen, serving areas, and new outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear, structured overview of the most significant changes, and the description of the layout is somewhat informal and disjointed. While the key features are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more precise. The final sentence is subjective and evaluative ('boring food') rather than objective, which is not appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. To improve, focus on grouping related features logically and maintaining a neutral, analytical tone throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat erratic. The transition between describing the kitchen area and the bins is abrupt. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Initially', 'Overall'), the flow is occasionally hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of varied linking words. The paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate distinct areas of the cafe (e.g., indoor vs. outdoor changes). Improving the use of referencing and logical connectors would help the ideas flow more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. Phrases like 'enormous changes' and 'boring food' are somewhat informal or imprecise for an academic report. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'at right to the bins' instead of 'to the right of the bins'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific vocabulary related to spatial descriptions and design changes, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'partitioned', or 'integrated'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Additional outdoor seating is also also added' (repetition) and 'The toilets are at right to the bins' (preposition error). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are instances where sentence boundaries could be clearer. While the meaning is rarely obscured, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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