Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26

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 illustrated diagram shows how a café looked before and after it was redesigned. At a glance, we can see that it was rather simple before, with limited facilities. A large area is simply dedicated to tables and chairs. All the food is prepared in the same kitchen area and at the front a serving area is shown. There is only one trash can available for all the trash.

However, after redesigning the cafe is shown to be upgraded with all the facilities enhanced. The kitchen area has a place to prepare hot meals. The staff dining rooms are replaced by take away food and a separate coffee bar is added to the design which seems to be a great development. A variety of recycling bins are added for different types of trash that can be recycled. A salad bar is made at the left corner for students to prefer to eat healthy to maintain better health and lifestyle. An extensive outdoor area is established to utilise the space efficiently with a barbeque section too.

overall, the renovated and redesigned cafe is far better and has a good space occupied for different needs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the kitchen, dining areas, and the addition of new facilities like the salad bar and outdoor space. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, such as the overall expansion or the shift in layout. While the key features are identified, the description is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. To reach a higher band, you should focus on synthesizing the information—for example, noting that the cafe has been significantly expanded and modernized to accommodate more diverse student needs, rather than just listing the changes in each area.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for this task. There is a logical progression from the 'before' state to the 'after' state. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. For instance, the transition 'However' is used correctly, but the overall flow between sentences could be smoother. Some referencing is slightly repetitive, and the final 'overall' paragraph is quite brief and lacks a strong concluding synthesis. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redesigned', 'upgraded', 'enhanced', and 'renovated'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'good space occupied for different needs', which is not a natural collocation. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to spatial changes, such as 'reconfigured', 'transformed', or 'spacious', and ensure that collocations are used accurately to convey your meaning more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are some grammatical errors, such as 'the cafe is shown to be upgraded' (passive voice usage is slightly awkward here) and 'students to prefer to eat healthy' (should be 'students who prefer to eat healthily'). Punctuation is generally correct, but there is a lack of variety in complex sentence structures. To achieve a higher score, focus on using a wider range of grammatical structures, such as relative clauses or more sophisticated passive constructions, while ensuring that these are used accurately.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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