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 plans illustrate a cafe of a college which is known as J Woras, how it was looks and the demolished view.
Overall, the indoor area of the cafe is the same but all the amenities are modified. However, a large outside seating area and a barbecue is added as it becomes more convenient space for customers to enjoy their meal.
In the past, a large rectangular area was used for cafe with an extended kitchen which offers food and drinks at the serving area. The main cafe area contained two rooms for staff dining which is located beside the kitchen and the remaining hall was full of tables and chairs that are utilized by the students. Near to the entrance of cafe a bin and toilets were exists.
The new plan, modified almost everything in the cafe. The serving counter is converted to hot meals similarly, staff dinning rooms are utilized for other work such as takeaway food and coffee bar. However, central hall remained the same but a salad bar added in front of kitchen and normal bines are replaced with recycling bins, in this way waste can be processed. Furthermore, in the south side of the cafe outdoor seating and barbecue is included for the customers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 redesign, including the addition of the outdoor area and the modifications to the kitchen and dining facilities. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; stating the indoor area is 'the same' contradicts the significant changes made to the layout (e.g., the addition of a salad bar and the conversion of staff rooms). While the main features are identified, the description lacks precision in spatial referencing, which is crucial for a Task 1 report. The response addresses the prompt, but the analysis of the changes could be more systematic and accurate to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In the past', 'The new plan', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'in this way waste can be processed'. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall progression of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for the description of the cafe's features. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, such as 'amenities', 'demolished', and 'converted'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'how it was looks' (grammatical error affecting lexical accuracy) and 'normal bines' (spelling error). The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'how it was looks', 'a barbecue is added', 'staff dinning rooms are utilized', and 'toilets were exists'. These errors are frequent but do not generally impede communication. While the student attempts complex structures, the control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is inconsistent. To improve, focus on ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past states versus current states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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