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 maps illustrate the development that took place in a collage cafe before it was redesigned and how was it look now.
Overall, the layout underwent significant modernization with several new facilities replaced the café before redesign. There is a new changes in the outdoor area.
Specifically, in the northern side of the cafe, a small changes in the kitchen, there is a hot meals added. In staff dining rooms changed into take away food and Coffee bar. In the eastern side of the Cafe one bin shifted to recycling bins. In the western side of the Cafe Toilets are remained unchanged. And tables and chairs are remained completely intact in the central layout.
In contrast, in the southern part of the Cafe there is a new addition. Saled bar has added.
In addition, Cafe before redesigned there was no outdoor seating. In the outdoor southern side of the Cafe barbecue stall is added.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the redesign, such as the kitchen modifications, the addition of the salad bar, and the new outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the most significant changes. The description is somewhat fragmented, focusing on individual areas rather than synthesizing the overall transformation of the cafe. While the key information is presented, the lack of a strong summary and the somewhat repetitive structure prevent it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure that the overview paragraph highlights the most striking changes, such as the shift toward a more modern, service-oriented layout, rather than just listing details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of varied cohesive devices. Phrases like 'In the northern side', 'In the eastern side', and 'In the western side' are used mechanically, making the text feel like a list rather than a cohesive report. While the progression of ideas is generally understandable, the transitions between sentences are often abrupt. Using a wider range of linking words and varying the sentence structure would help the information flow more naturally and improve the overall readability of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'collage cafe' (likely a spelling error for 'college') and 'how was it look now'. The use of 'small changes' and 'new addition' is repetitive. While the student successfully identifies specific features like 'recycling bins' and 'barbecue stall', the range of vocabulary is limited. To achieve a higher score, the student should focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to spatial changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', 'converted', or 'expanded', rather than relying on basic verbs like 'changed' or 'added'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'several new facilities replaced the café' (which is logically confusing), 'a small changes in the kitchen', and 'Toilets are remained unchanged'. The use of passive voice is often attempted but frequently inaccurate, such as 'Saled bar has added'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the reliance on simple, error-prone sentences limits the grammatical range. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice for describing changes would significantly improve the accuracy and sophistication of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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