Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-28
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 illustrates some major changes of cafe design before and after it redesigned. It reflects several major changes and modifications.
Overall, kitchen and a toilet were remained on the same location. A new sealed bar and a Barbecue developed below the kitchen in left corner. Despite of these, some outdoor sitting were also placed outside the cafe.
In the beginning, there was staff dining room in right side below the kitchen but now it was replaced by take away food and coffee bar. Serving area of all foods and drinks were now changed to hot meals
Furthermore, some new things were also settled down like a new sealed bar and a Barbecue was developed on bottom side of cafe. Some new outdoor sitting was also provided to eat or drink comfortably. Also some minor changes like bin was converted into recycle bin and new door developed left on the toilet.
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 cafe redesign, such as the kitchen, the new bar, and the outdoor seating. However, the report is somewhat superficial. It lacks a clear overview that synthesises the most significant changes, such as the shift from a staff dining area to a customer-focused coffee bar. Some information is repetitive (e.g., mentioning the bar and barbecue twice), and the description of the serving area is vague. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping information logically and providing a more analytical summary of the transformation rather than listing features in a disjointed manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the internal structure of the paragraphs is repetitive. For example, you mention the bar and barbecue in the second paragraph and then again in the third. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In the beginning' and 'Furthermore', but they feel somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes effectively. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a distinct focus would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic verbs like 'remained', 'changed', and 'developed'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'sealed bar' (likely meant 'serving bar') and 'settled down', which is not appropriate for describing architectural changes. The repetition of words like 'changes' and 'new' limits the range. To improve, try to use more specific vocabulary related to layout and design, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'converted', or 'extended', and ensure that your terminology accurately reflects the visual information provided in the plans.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The plans illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'before it redesigned' (passive voice error), 'kitchen and a toilet were remained' (incorrect passive construction), and 'Despite of these' (incorrect preposition). These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader, though they do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement, correct passive voice construction, and the proper use of prepositions. Increasing the variety of sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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