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 compares the interior and the exterior of a college cafe, before it was redesigned, and how does it looks afterwards.

Overall, the noticable difference between both maps is the outdoor seating. Whereas there are many other changes as well like replacement of the staff dining rooms and increased recycling area etc.

If we compare both, before and after it was redesigned, it can be seen that the serving area for all food and drinks near the kitchen, is converted into a place for hot meals. Similarily, the dining rooms for staff are swapped by a take away food area and a coffee bar. Also the space for recycling bin was increased.

Three major introductions were seen. Firstly, an outside barbecue area was designed. Secondly, an outdoor seating area was made, with two entry and exit points from within the cafe.

A salad bar was also added inside the cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the outdoor seating, the new barbecue area, and the internal layout changes. However, the report is somewhat brief and lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the transformation. While the key changes are identified, the description of the 'before' and 'after' states could be more precise. For instance, the mention of 'swapped by a take away food area' is slightly vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all significant changes are clearly contrasted and that the overview provides a more comprehensive summary of the overall shift in the cafe's layout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Firstly' and 'Secondly'. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is a bit abrupt. While the logical progression is generally clear, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better referencing to connect the 'before' and 'after' states more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, covering the necessary terminology for a floor plan description (e.g., 'serving area', 'recycling bin', 'barbecue area'). However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'swapped by' instead of 'replaced by' or 'converted into'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptive language. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial changes and layout modifications, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'transformed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly affect the clarity of the writing, such as 'how does it looks afterwards' (should be 'how it looks afterwards') and 'Whereas there are many other changes' (which is a fragment). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and tense issues throughout the text. 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 sentence structure will help improve accuracy.

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

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