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 ADDITIONALLY, SOME SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FACILITY.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AFTER RENOVATION, THE FOOD AND DRINK SERVE AREA HAS BEEN REPLACED BY PROVIDING OF HOT MEALS ONLY.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

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe layout before and after the redesign. You successfully identified key changes, such as the addition of the salad bar, outdoor seating, and the barbecue area. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score. Some descriptions are slightly vague, such as 'some sections have been replaced by establishment of new facility', which lacks specific detail. To improve, ensure you provide a clear, concise summary of the overall transformation in the introduction or overview paragraph, and ensure all comparisons are explicitly linked to the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the 'before' state to the 'after' state. You use some cohesive devices like 'additionally' and 'at a glance', but the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. There are instances where the connection between ideas is slightly disjointed, such as the transition between the kitchen description and the washrooms. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the comparison of the two plans.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'refurbishment', 'transformation', and 'layout'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'underwent some transformation' (should be 'has undergone'), 'platform for serving' (likely 'counter'), and 'proper treatment of garbages' (garbage is uncountable). Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'appraent' and 'platfrom'. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your vocabulary is used in a natural, idiomatic way appropriate for a formal report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writing 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' (incorrect verb form), 'comprising of' (should be 'comprising'), 'opposite to it' (should be 'opposite'), and 'the construction of opening and closing of doors' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the misuse of articles and prepositions is noticeable throughout. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions, and try to vary your sentence structures while ensuring they remain grammatically accurate.

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

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