Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

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 above map illustrate a college cafe look after renovation.

As you saw on the map there are little changes in the cafe after renovation. The new cafe have a coffee bar and take away food counter which was former staff dining room. Also, they add outdoor seating for college students and two new food stations which is the barbecue and the salad bar. Now students can enjoy health and barbecue food also the toilet and the kitchen area remain same and the bin is now recycling bin.

The new cafe map illustrate some major changes in the cafe area which will provide more space for students to take their meal for instance the addition of outdoor seating would provide better space to dining with friends and explore the open environment of college. Furthermore, now students can explore coffee, salad and the barbecue food.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you identify some key features of the renovation, such as the new coffee bar and outdoor seating, the overview is underdeveloped. You mention that there are 'little changes,' which is inaccurate given the significant structural additions shown in the plans. Furthermore, the report lacks a clear summary of the overall transformation. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the main trends and include more specific comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states to fully address all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, but the logical progression is somewhat disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'furthermore' and 'for instance,' the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, in the second paragraph, you mention 'the barbecue and the salad bar' as 'two new food stations' but then refer to them as 'which is the barbecue and the salad bar,' which is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring clear paragraph structure will help the reader follow your points more easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'little changes' and 'health food,' which are not entirely accurate or academic in tone. There are also some word-choice errors, such as 'explore coffee' instead of 'access' or 'purchase.' To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'converted,' 'relocated,' 'extended,' or 'transformed,' and ensure that your collocations are natural and appropriate for a formal report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are frequent subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'The above map illustrate' (should be 'illustrates') and 'The new cafe have' (should be 'has'). Additionally, there are errors with pluralization and articles, such as 'the toilet and the kitchen area remain same' (should be 'remain the same'). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often marred by these persistent errors. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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