Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-29
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 diagram illustrates the design of a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
The cafe design was simple before but now many changes have been incorporated making it look fancier than before. Earlier there were only tables and chairs, kitchen, serving area, staff dining rooms, toilets and bin but today the kitchen is at the same place where it was, there is a separate section for hot meals, at the western side there is a salad bar and barbecue station. In the center there are tables and chairs and on the north of those there are two separate sections, one for take away food and second is a coffee bar from where you can buy freshly brewed coffee. At the eastern side, the recycling bins have been placed along with the toilets. Moreover, there was no outdoor seating before but now there's a proper section for an outdoor seating.
In conclusion, the design of the cafe has been improved with many things being removed or replaced with newer ones. Now the design of the cafe looks much better than before.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of the salad bar, coffee station, and outdoor seating. However, the response lacks a clear overview that synthesizes the most significant changes. Instead of listing every detail, you should highlight the transformation from a simple layout to a more specialized, multi-functional space. Additionally, the description of the layout is somewhat repetitive and lacks precise comparative language. To reach a higher band, focus on grouping features logically rather than listing them sequentially, and ensure the overview clearly summarizes the overall trend of the renovation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the 'before' to the 'after' state. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'earlier there were' and 'today the kitchen is' are functional but repetitive. The transition between the description of the interior and the outdoor seating is abrupt. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and referencing techniques to connect ideas more fluidly, ensuring that the relationship between the old and new layouts is clearly signaled throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the various areas of the cafe clearly. However, the language is quite basic and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, using 'fancier' is informal and imprecise for an academic report. Similarly, 'many things being removed' is vague. To improve, incorporate more specific vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated,' 'expanded,' 'integrated,' or 'reconfigured.' Focusing on more academic collocations will help elevate the tone of your writing and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'at the same place where it was' (which is wordy) and 'second is a coffee bar' (which lacks an article). There are also minor punctuation issues, such as the missing comma after introductory phrases. To achieve a higher score, aim for greater variety in your sentence structures, such as using passive voice to describe the changes (e.g., 'The recycling bins were relocated to the eastern side') and ensuring subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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