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 Diagram displays the structural planning of a college cafeteria before and after of redesigning. There is a direct distinct arrangement of cafe can be seen in the plan modules. The measurement of the area designated to the cafe remained same in both modules.

Kitchen area or place remained same in cafe before or after redesigning. Conversely, serving area for all kind of food or drink have been converted into hot meals section in today's cafe. Furthermore, Staff dining rooms were available in former design which has been replaced with take away counter for food or in a coffee bar. This is somehow a new addition to the cafe. The area specified for recycle bin to dispose waste material, rest rooms or indoor seating capacity remained same in both designs.

However, there is an addition of salad bar near the hot meals section direct opposite to the bin. This can be very beneficial in relation to variety or economy. Moreover, redesigning of cafe added more seating towards outdoor, which is really thoughtful. As students can enjoy weather or view while enjoying their meals. Right next to outdoor seating, there is a place for Barbecue, so people can easily satisfy their spicy grilled cravings.

Overall, the today's cafe design is more spacious rather than previous one. It has more variety of food options. The best part is coffee bar for caffine lovers, they can get their coffee conveniently without any delay.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the static elements like the kitchen and restrooms, and the changes such as the new salad bar, coffee bar, and outdoor seating. However, the analysis is slightly hindered by subjective commentary, such as describing the outdoor seating as 'really thoughtful' or mentioning 'spicy grilled cravings.' In IELTS Task 1, it is essential to maintain an objective, analytical tone and avoid personal opinions or informal language. While the key information is presented, the report would benefit from a more formal summary of the spatial changes rather than evaluating the quality of the food or the convenience for 'caffeine lovers.'

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, moving from the static areas to the modifications and finally to an overall summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of information is generally clear. However, the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the phrase 'This is somehow a new addition,' where the antecedent is slightly ambiguous. Improving the flow between sentences by varying the structure of cohesive links would enhance the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'structural planning,' 'designated,' and 'spacious' used correctly. However, there are instances of informal or imprecise word choices, such as 'caffeine lovers' and 'spicy grilled cravings,' which are not suitable for an Academic report. Additionally, there are minor errors in collocation and phrasing, such as 'before and after of redesigning' (should be 'before and after the redesign') and 'remained same' (should be 'remained the same'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise, academic vocabulary and avoiding conversational language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the' is often missing, e.g., 'in cafe,' 'in today's cafe') and prepositions. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'The Diagram displays the structural planning of a college cafeteria before and after of redesigning.' There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and word order. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the content, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on article usage and sentence construction will help improve accuracy.

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

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