Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25

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 plans display college old cafe and the new one after redesign.

There are numerous new things that have been added in new cafe such as added salad bar, and also exand sittings at outside the cafe. Barbecue section is also introdue at outside.

The kitchen position is same in new cafe as in old one, but serving area is changed into hot meals, takeaway and coffee bar are converted at the center of the hall. There was only one bin in old cafe but have more than one in new cafe. Toilets remained in same position in both plans. salad bar is included at the far left side of the cafe that was not in previous cafe plan. Tables and chair remained in same arrangements in both cafe plans. However, in new design cafe introduce outside seating and also add barbeque setup at the right side just outside the cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the kitchen, serving area, and new additions like the salad bar and outdoor seating. However, the overview is missing; a summary of the most significant changes (e.g., the expansion of facilities and the shift in the serving area) is essential for a higher band. The description is somewhat list-like, focusing on individual items rather than synthesizing the information into a clear, comparative report. While all parts of the task are addressed, the lack of a clear overview and the tendency to focus on minor details like the number of bins prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The transition between describing the interior and the exterior is abrupt. Cohesive devices are limited and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'in new cafe', 'in old cafe'). The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes effectively. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, such as one paragraph for interior changes and another for exterior additions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word-choice errors, such as 'exand sittings' (expand seating) and 'introdue' (introduced). The range of vocabulary is narrow, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions, such as 'relocated,' 'transformed,' 'extended,' or 'adjacent to.' The spelling errors, while not always impeding communication, are frequent enough to detract from the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('in new cafe' instead of 'in the new cafe'), verb tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement ('Barbecue section is also introdue'). Complex structures are largely absent, and the punctuation is basic. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of grammatical slips limits the score. Focusing on the correct use of articles and ensuring consistent verb tenses when comparing past and present states would 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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