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 maps demonstrates a college cafeteria redesigned earlier and how it looks now.
Overall, it can seen that, the structure of the map untouched before and after expect bin area and salad bar added in the cafe now. however, outside of the cafeteria barbecue and outdoor seating area represented in the present time.
To begin with earlier cafe redesign, the north-west region there was a kitchen followed the path there was a serving area for all food and drink. In the centre of the map there was staff dining rooms, behind of these tables and chairs for peoples. Furthermore, the entry and exit doors were in the eastern region. The bin area and toilets was in the north-east side.
However, cafe structure looks now almost same but outside region is added. Kitchen ares is untouched and only hot meals are available in the north- west side.Following the west region and the south-west region there is a salad bar and out side the cafe there is barbecue between them there is a door. The staff dining rooms are now converted into the take awy food and coffee bar. The bin area take more space for recycling bins. Moreover, the tables, chairs and toilets are untouched. The five seating tables added in the outside of the cafe.
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 two plans, identifying key changes such as the addition of the salad bar, barbecue area, and the conversion of the staff dining room. However, the overview is somewhat weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. While the response identifies the main features, some descriptions are slightly inaccurate, such as stating the kitchen area is 'untouched' when the layout of the serving area has clearly changed. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most striking differences, such as the shift from a purely internal layout to one that incorporates outdoor facilities.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the comparison. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as the phrase 'followed the path there was a serving area'. There are also issues with referencing; for example, 'between them there is a door' is ambiguous because the antecedent is unclear. While the overall progression is logical, the flow between sentences could be smoother through more varied linking words and better control over pronoun references.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the layout and changes. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'take awy' (spelling), 'peoples' (incorrect plural), and 'outside region is added'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for spatial descriptions and ensuring accurate spelling and word formation.
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 subject-verb agreement issues ('The bin area and toilets was', 'The maps demonstrates') and missing articles ('in the north-west side'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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