Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27
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 PLANS HIGHLIGHT THE LAYOUT OF A COLLEGE BEFORE AND AFTER REFURBISHMENT.
EVIDENTLY, THE STRUCTURE HAS UNDERWENT SOME TRANSFORMATION BY INTRODUCING AERA FOR OUTDOOR SEATING, SALAD BAR AND SMALL SPACE FOR BARBECUE. ADDITIONALLY, SOME SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FACILITY.
AT A GLANCE IT IS APPRAENT THAT THE RECTANGULAR PLOT WAS THERE FOR KITCHEN PURPOSES COMPRISING OF PLATFROM FOR SERVING FOOD AND DRINK, ALONG THAT SAME WALL IT A CORRIDOR OR A SLIDING DOOR. BY PASSING THROUGH THE LOBBY, THE CAFE HAS TWO DINING ROOMS FOR THE STAFF MANAGEMENT AND FOR REFRESHMENT AND LEISURE TIME THERE COULD BE SEEN ARRANGEMENT OF TABLES AND CHAIRS WHERE STAFF CAN RELAX. OPPOSITE TO IT, AT THE END CORNER, WASHROOMS ARE BUILT WIT HAVING DUSTBINS NEARBY TO THAT AREA.
AFTER RENOVATION, THE FOOD AND DRINK SERVE AREA HAS BEEN REPLACED BY PROVIDING OF HOT MEALS ONLY. A SALAD BAR HAS BEEN ADDED FOR THE PEOPLE. SUPRISINGLY, THE RECYCLING BINS ARE PUT INTO USE FOR PROPER TREATMENT OF GARBAGES. THE CONSTRUCTION OF OPENING AND CLOSING OF DOORS ALLOWED PUBLIC TO VISIT THE OUTDOOR SEATING COMPARTMENT WITH SEVERAL SEATS AND TABLES, OFFERING A NEW BARBECUE PLACE FOR COOKED MEAL TO BE EATEN.
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, including the addition of the salad bar, outdoor seating, and the barbecue area. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes. While the key features are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states could be more precise. For instance, the mention of 'hot meals only' is a specific detail, but the overall spatial transformation is not fully synthesized. The response addresses the prompt adequately but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the original layout to the renovated one. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'At a glance it is appraent' and 'By passing through the lobby'. There are also issues with referencing; for example, 'opposite to it' is vague, making it difficult to visualize the exact location of the washrooms in relation to other features. The flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing, which affects the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'refurbishment', 'transformation', and 'renovation' used correctly. However, there are several spelling errors ('appraent', 'platfrom', 'suprisingly', 'garbages') and some awkward collocations, such as 'establishment of new facility' and 'put into use for proper treatment of garbages'. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but the lack of precision and the presence of spelling mistakes limit the score. More sophisticated vocabulary related to spatial description would improve the quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the structure has underwent' (should be 'undergone'), 'comprising of' (should be 'comprising'), and 'washrooms are built wit having dustbins' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the misuse of verb tenses and prepositions is noticeable throughout. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher level of grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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