Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31
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 figure illustrates college cafe before renovation and how it looks now after renovation.
Overall, there had been made several changes after renovation. Outside from cafe barbecue area had been added. Staff dining room has been replaced by take away and coffee bar.
However, before renovation there was a huge space for tables and chairs for sitting. And a kitchen at the corner of the cafe and a window in kitchen for serving food and drinks. At the right side of kitchen there used to be a staff dining rooms. So, staff can have lunch easily. And a toilets and bin for students and staff.
After renovation, several changes have been made in the cafe. Outside of the cafe barbecue area has been added with outdoor seating. Staff dining rooms has been replaced with take away food and coffee bar. Salad bar area is also added in the corner of the cafe. Kitchen place is remained same but serving area has been replaced with hot meals. And toilets, tables and chairs remain same. Bin has been replaced by recycling bin.
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 cafe renovation, including the addition of the barbecue area, the change in the staff dining room, and the introduction of the salad bar. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that 'several changes have been made', a more effective overview would highlight the shift from a purely functional space to one with more diverse amenities. The description is somewhat repetitive, as you describe the changes in the second paragraph and then repeat them in the third. To improve, focus on grouping information logically by area rather than listing changes chronologically or repeating details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by repetition. For instance, the barbecue area and the staff dining room changes are mentioned in both the second and third paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, with frequent use of 'And' or 'However' at the start of sentences. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph introduces new information rather than restating previous points. Using a wider variety of linking words, such as 'Furthermore', 'In contrast', or 'Additionally', would improve the flow between ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher score. You rely on basic verbs like 'added', 'replaced', and 'remained'. Using more specific terminology would enhance the quality of your writing. For example, instead of saying 'kitchen place is remained same', you could use 'the kitchen layout remained unchanged'. There are also minor errors in collocation, such as 'Outside from cafe' instead of 'Outside the cafe'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and verbs related to spatial changes will help you achieve a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Issues include missing articles ('a toilets', 'a kitchen'), incorrect verb tenses ('there had been made'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('staff dining rooms has been replaced'). Additionally, some sentences are fragments, such as 'And a toilets and bin for students and staff.' To improve, focus on proofreading for basic article usage and ensuring that your subjects and verbs agree. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy is essential for a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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