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 plan illustrates a college cafe before view and the view now after it is redesign.

Overall, the area of the cafe remains same as it was before the renovation. But there are few changes that were made in previous model. The new barbecue area was introduced into the new design. Moreover, Serving area and the staff dinning room were also changed. Tables and chairs area is not changed.

Firstly, the serving area now converted into the hot meal area. In addition, the staff dinning rooms were renovated into take away food corner and the coffee bar section. Therefore, bin and toilet areas remained on the same positions. Although, the kitchen area also remains same.

However, a salad bar section is now introduced into the new cafe plan. Also, a barbecue area along with outdoor seating was introduced. The sitting area is huge and the maximum number of people can accommodate there. This area is very suitable for outdoor parties.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the introduction of the barbecue area and the conversion of the serving area. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the 'before' and 'now' states could be more precise. For example, stating that the 'area of the cafe remains same' is a good start, but the report would benefit from more specific detail regarding the spatial layout changes. The response addresses the task requirements but lacks the depth of analysis expected for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is a logical progression from an overview to specific details. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate, such as the use of 'Therefore' to connect the bin/toilet areas to the previous sentence. Some transitions feel forced, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs more variety and natural linking to achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes clearly. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'renovated', 'converted', and 'accommodate'. However, there are some word choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'before view' instead of 'previous layout' and 'staff dinning room' (spelling error: dining). The range is somewhat limited, and the repetition of basic verbs like 'remains' and 'changed' restricts the lexical variety. More precise terminology would improve the quality of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including issues with articles ('the serving area now converted' should be 'has been converted') and verb tense consistency ('before view' is grammatically incorrect). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. The student attempts to use complex structures, but they are often marred by minor errors in syntax or preposition usage. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage would significantly improve the score.

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

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