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 two figures illustrate the comparison between design of college cafe before and after its renovation.
Overall, staff dining rooms have now been used for other purposes. while, there is a new addition of space and some portion of cafe remained unchanged.
Serving area is being used for hot meals. While table and chairs, toilets, and bins position remain unchanged, including kitchen area as well. Major changes occured in staff dining rooms which are being used for the purpose of coffee bar and take away food. Outside area of cafe is now for outdoor seating purposes, including a barbecue spot being added into new design.There is addition of doors as well for entry and exit to outdoor spaces.
In conclusion, Majority of area remain unchanged, while some area is being used for different
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the cafe renovation, the description is somewhat superficial. You mention the changes to the staff dining rooms and the addition of the outdoor seating area, but the report lacks a detailed comparison of the layout. Furthermore, the conclusion is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence, which prevents a full summary of the information. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the spatial changes and ensure the response is of sufficient length to fully address all parts of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into an introduction, body, and a brief, unfinished conclusion. However, the logical flow is hindered by the abrupt ending and some awkward transitions. For instance, the use of 'while' at the start of the second paragraph is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often mechanical or misused, such as the repetitive use of 'while' and 'including'. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of a complete final paragraph makes the overall structure feel underdeveloped. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, complete focus would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You rely on simple descriptors like 'used for' and 'remain unchanged' multiple times. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'Major changes occured' (spelling: occurred) and 'Majority of area' (missing article: 'the majority of the area'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'converted,' 'transformed,' 'relocated,' or 'expanded,' and ensure articles and prepositions are used accurately to improve the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'staff dining rooms have now been used for other purposes' is an incorrect tense choice for describing a static plan comparison; 'are now used' would be more appropriate. There are also issues with punctuation and sentence fragments, such as the incomplete final sentence. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for missing articles and verb tense consistency will help you achieve a more accurate and professional tone.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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