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 plan below shows the renovation of a college cafe with some changes added in the kitchen area area and the main hall.

Although there are some similarities in both the plans with the same kitchen area, enterance to the cafe and bin installed on its one side. But the new one shows a better larger bin with an option of recycling.The toilets are kept at the same place.

The old cafe has a single serving desk besides the kitchen for all types of food and beverages. the serving hall has two separate rooms for the staff and a big hall for others. The new one has a lot of changes where the serving desk besides the kitchen serves only the hot meals now.There is a separate salad bar in the main hall with an arrangement of tables and chairs. The staff dining rooms are now been used as coffee bar and for takeaways. The cafe has a barbecue plan with an outdoor seating making a connection with the main hall.

The plan of the cafe has been redesigned covering up more space and separate counters for food with outdoor seating.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe renovation, such as the new salad bar, the conversion of staff rooms, and the addition of outdoor seating. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph that highlights the most significant changes at a glance. While you mention specific details, the report would benefit from a more structured approach to comparing the 'before' and 'after' states. Some information is slightly repetitive, and the description of the layout could be more precise to help the reader visualize the transformation more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as starting a sentence with 'But' or using 'The new one' repeatedly. The transition between the description of the old cafe and the new layout could be smoother. Additionally, some sentences are slightly disjointed, which affects the overall flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') is used more accurately would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'renovation', 'beverages', and 'takeaways'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'barbecue plan' (likely referring to a barbecue area) and 'covering up more space'. The repetition of basic phrases like 'the new one' and 'the old cafe' limits your ability to demonstrate a wider, more sophisticated range of vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to architectural changes and spatial layout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'The staff dining rooms are now been used' should be 'are now being used'. There are also punctuation issues, such as missing spaces after periods (e.g., 'beverages. the serving hall') and minor errors in article usage. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent punctuation will help improve your accuracy.

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