Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01
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 map illustrates the layout of college cafe before redesign and at the present.
Overall, there were many changes have been done such as Salad bar, outside sitting area, and staff rooms were converted into takeaways and coffee bar.
First off all, there was a spacious kitchen and a serving area located in the northern side of the cafe. In the middle, there was two separate dinning rooms and a small bin was also place in the corner. In the right side of the south there was also a toilet and they placed tables and chairs in the remaining area.
At present, they replaced severing area with the hot meals; however, bin is also replaced by labeled recycling bins. They also introduced a Salad bar in the left corner of the western side of the cafe. The two new developments have been occurred. They introduced a barbecue area and outside seating plan for students.
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 redesign, such as the addition of the salad bar and the outdoor seating area. However, the description of the 'before' layout is somewhat confusing, particularly regarding the location of the dining rooms and the kitchen. While the overview identifies key changes, it lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the overall transformation. Some details, such as the specific locations of the new features, are slightly vague, which limits the clarity of the comparison. To improve, ensure that spatial relationships are described with greater precision and that the overview highlights the most significant structural shifts rather than just listing individual items.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into 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 occasionally inaccurate, such as 'First off all' (which should be 'First of all') and the awkward transition 'The two new developments have been occurred'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track the exact location of the changes described. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'many changes have been done' and 'they replaced' are basic. There are also some word-choice errors, such as 'severing area' (likely intended as 'serving area') and 'outside seating plan' (which is not the most natural way to describe an outdoor seating area). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and spatial descriptions, such as 'situated in the northern quadrant', 'replaced by', or 'underwent a transformation'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there were many changes have been done' (incorrect verb tense/passive construction), 'there was two separate dinning rooms' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'bin is also replaced' (missing article). Additionally, 'The two new developments have been occurred' is grammatically incorrect as 'occur' is an intransitive verb and cannot be used in the passive voice. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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