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 two plans illustrate how college cafe looks before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, some areas were replaced by other areas.
Staff dining rooms are converted to take away food area and coffee bar, while toilets and hot meals remained same in both plans.
Serving area was converted to hot meals in today's plan, while Bin was expanded and remained to recycling bin. In outdoor, their was 5 tables added.
In south corner, New barbecue meal area was added. kitchen and toilets were remained same in both plans. In addition, tables and chairs were remained same in middle of the area.
There were two gates were added, one for barbecue other for outdoor seating. Nearby recycling bin, their was two gates. One gate for go outside another for came inside. Staff dining rooms were converted in take away food department and coffee bar. Both departments had their own gates.
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 conversion of the staff dining area and the addition of new facilities like the barbecue area and extra gates. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. The description is somewhat fragmented, focusing on individual changes rather than synthesizing the information into a coherent summary of the transformation. While the key changes are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more precise, and the report would benefit from a more structured approach to grouping the information (e.g., internal vs. external changes).
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between ideas is often mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'In addition', 'while'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the mention of 'today's plan' and 'their was' (there were), which disrupts the flow. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related information, leading to a somewhat disjointed reading experience. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring clear reference points would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is a reliance on basic verbs like 'added', 'remained', and 'converted'. Some word choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as 'Bin was expanded and remained to recycling bin' and 'go outside another for came inside'. The student attempts to describe specific areas, but the lack of sophisticated vocabulary limits the ability to convey the changes with clarity. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to spatial changes and facility descriptions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('toilets and hot meals remained same', 'kitchen and toilets were remained same'), article usage, and sentence structure ('their was 5 tables added'). The use of 'their' instead of 'there' is a recurring error. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often faulty. The sentence construction is generally simple, and the lack of control over basic grammar significantly affects the overall quality of the writing.
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