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 diagram shows college cafe before rework and how cafe looks today.
Overall, it is evident that outdoor seating have been newly introduced in the cafe, which is a big change and might attract consumers. After entering the cafe tables and chairs are at similar position as before, no change have manifested.
To begin with, after entering into the cafe towards the left side bin is now replaced with recycling bins, beside the recycle bins toilet is at the same position. Take away food cabin and coffee bar have been introduced in place of staff dining rooms, beside this in the area of kitchen, all types of food and drink use to be served, in that respective position hot meals is introduced. In addition, there are two major changes which has never been there, salad bar inside the cafe in front of kitchen and hot meals area and another is barbeque which is installed out side of cafe behind out door seating.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the introduction of outdoor seating, the recycling bins, and the new food service areas. However, the description is somewhat disorganized and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is occasionally confusing due to imprecise language. For instance, stating that 'tables and chairs are at similar position' is vague. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the information more logically—perhaps by area or by type of change—and ensure the overview clearly highlights the most significant transformations rather than just listing details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'beside this', 'in addition'). The flow between sentences is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'after entering into the cafe towards the left side bin is now replaced'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the exact layout changes. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the logical progression of your report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes to the cafe. You use some relevant terms like 'recycling bins', 'take away food cabin', and 'barbeque'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'rework' instead of 'redesign' or 'renovation', and 'cabin' instead of 'counter' or 'kiosk'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic descriptive language. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions and architectural changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'outdoor seating have been' (should be 'has been') and 'no change have manifested' (should be 'has manifested'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and sentence structure, such as 'in that respective position hot meals is introduced'. While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these errors. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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