Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The maps below compare the original layout of college café before and after its redevelopment.

Overall, it is evident that the café underwent significant redevelopment with several new facilities being added. The noticeable changes includes, the expansion of sitting area, and addition of some new sections such as salad bar and coffee bar.

Before cafe had spacious kitchen on the north side with all food and drink available in kitchen area. The tables and chairs were in center of the cafe and two dining rooms for staff were located in the front of sitting area. Toilets were located on the bottom-right corner.

After redesign, In kitchen all food and drink area is replaced by hot meals. The tables and chairs remained in the center whereas the previous staff dining rooms are now replaced by take away food and coffee bar. The salad bar was added on the western corner and earlier bin now transformed into recycling bins while toilets stayed at the same place. Furthermore, the new outdoor sitting area is added to accommodate more customers along with barbecue section is added near outdoor sitting area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, including the expansion of seating, the addition of new service areas like the salad and coffee bars, and the introduction of outdoor facilities. The overview provides a clear summary of the changes. However, the report could be improved by more precise spatial descriptions. For instance, referring to the 'bottom-right corner' is informal; using 'southeast' or 'the right side' would be more appropriate for an academic report. Additionally, some details, such as the specific transformation of the bin area, are mentioned but could be integrated more smoothly into the overall comparison of the layout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs covering the 'before' and 'after' states. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'Before cafe had' and 'After redesign, In kitchen' lack necessary articles and smooth transitions. While paragraphing is used appropriately, the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'subsequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') to connect the spatial changes more fluidly rather than listing them sequentially.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the changes described. You have used some relevant terms such as 'redevelopment', 'accommodate', and 'transformed'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'sitting area' (should be 'seating area') and 'bin now transformed' (should be 'the bin area was transformed'). To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and a wider range of vocabulary related to describing maps and spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'converted', or 'extended'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly regarding article usage ('the' is frequently missing, e.g., 'in center of the cafe', 'in kitchen') and subject-verb agreement ('changes includes'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'Before cafe had spacious kitchen'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the information, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on consistent article usage and ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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