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)
Given diagrams illustrates the plan of new developments that would be made to the old cafeteria. It includes the old building architecture and the additions to it, after redesigning plan.
The old college cafe was quite small in size and had less facilities in it. When it comes to it's interior, there were two staff dinning rooms, toilets, a vast hall full with tables and chairs, a kitchen and a serving area. It was a quite basic, and old fashioned cafe.
On the other hand, after its redesigning , there are advanced features. For instance, there is a take away room, a salad bar, a barbecue center that are common in today's cafes. In addition to this, there is outer seating area that makes the cafe more fancy, and fascinating touch.
In conclusion, both the buildings are pretty similar, but there are some extra service centers, like take away and outdoor seating.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a basic overview of the changes, but it fails to meet the requirements for a high-level Task 1 response. While you mention some features like the salad bar and outdoor seating, the description lacks precision. You did not provide a clear summary of the overall layout changes or specific comparisons of the spatial shifts (e.g., the relocation of the kitchen or the reduction in the size of the dining area). The report is too descriptive and lacks the analytical focus required to highlight the 'main features' effectively. To improve, ensure you group information logically and provide a clear overview of the most significant transformations rather than listing individual items.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'In addition to this' is functional but basic. There are issues with referencing; for instance, the phrase 'both the buildings' in the conclusion is confusing because it is the same building being redesigned, not two separate ones. The flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking words and ensuring that the relationship between the old and new plans is clearly articulated throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. You rely on simple descriptors like 'quite small', 'less facilities', and 'fancy'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'full with tables' (should be 'full of') and 'fascinating touch'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to describing diagrams, such as 'expanded', 'relocated', 'transformed', or 'integrated'. The spelling is generally accurate, but the range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptive terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include 'Given diagrams illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error), 'it's interior' (incorrect use of possessive pronoun), and 'there are advanced features' (which is slightly vague). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement around lists. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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