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 ADDITIONALLY, SOME SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FACILITY.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AFTER RENOVATION, THE FOOD AND DRINK SERVE AREA HAS BEEN REPLACED BY PROVIDING OF HOT MEALS ONLY.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. GIVE ME BAND SCORE

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the changes, identifying the main features such as the outdoor seating and the salad bar. However, the description is somewhat disorganized and lacks precision in comparing the two layouts. For instance, the mention of 'hot meals only' is a misinterpretation of the plan, which shows a change in the serving counter's function rather than a restriction. Additionally, the description of the original layout is slightly confusing, particularly regarding the corridor and lobby. To improve, ensure that the spatial relationships are described more accurately and that the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is more structured and logical.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the introduction to the specific details of the renovation. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'At a glance it is appraent' and 'By passing through the lobby'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to visualize the exact layout changes. While there is a logical flow, the transitions between sentences could be smoother to better connect the before and after states. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of imprecise word choice and spelling errors that detract from the quality. Examples include 'underwent' (used incorrectly as 'underwent' instead of 'undergone'), 'appraent' (spelling), 'garbages' (uncountable noun used as countable), and 'construction of opening and closing of doors'. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'refurbishment' and 'layout', the frequent errors in collocation and word form limit the score. Focusing on accurate word forms and standard collocations will help improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the cafe has two dining rooms... there could be seen arrangement'), incorrect verb tenses ('has underwent'), and awkward phrasing ('the food and drink serve area'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to proofreading and mastering basic sentence patterns is necessary.

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

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