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 map illustrates the plan show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall it is clear that the area became more development and modernized. In addition, a take away food and coffee bar was introduced while the staff dining rooms was removed.
Looking at the details, in college cafe there was a staff dining rooms in the northern part of college. It was later replaced by a take away food and coffee bar. Similarly, the serving area ( all food and drink) in the wastern area were replaced by a hot meals.
In comparison, the kitchen, bin and toilets remained unchanged, while northern area and wastern was more development, facilities and build are modern building there was college building are built in modern facilities. By today, the staff dining rooms had been replaced by take away food and coffee bar while serving area (all food and drink) had been replaced by hot meals.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the removal of the staff dining room and the introduction of the takeaway bar. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in reporting the spatial changes. While the main features are identified, the summary of the 'western area' is confusingly phrased, and the report lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the layout changes. The inclusion of redundant information in the final paragraph prevents a more comprehensive analysis of the spatial transformation. To improve, focus on grouping features logically and avoiding the repetition of the same points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is hindered by repetitive phrasing and awkward transitions. While some cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'In comparison' are used, they are often followed by sentences that repeat information already stated. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when describing the 'western area'. The progression of information is not entirely logical, as the final paragraph largely restates points made earlier rather than synthesizing the information effectively. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring each sentence adds new information would significantly enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'more development' and 'modernized' are used incorrectly in context, and there are several errors in word choice, such as 'wastern area' (likely meaning western) and 'build are modern building'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the changes with precision. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more accurate terminology for describing plans, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'converted', or 'refurbished', and ensure that word forms are used correctly in their respective grammatical contexts.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'staff dining rooms was removed'), incorrect article usage, and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'the area became more development'). The range of grammatical structures is limited, relying mostly on simple sentences. Complex structures are attempted but are often faulty, such as 'there was college building are built in modern facilities'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and practicing the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing changes in plans.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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