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 two floor plan illustrates the changes made to a cafe's layout, comparing the earlier design with its current one.
To begin with, the cafe expanded its food service options. Along with the tables and chairs, outdoor seating arrangements were made and the internal layout was reorganised.
The dramatic increase in food service options, new counters were added. For instance, a coffee bar, barbeque counter were introduced and along with that the staff dining rooms were removed and replaced with take away counter and coffee bar. Moreover, the traditional bin was replaced with a sustainable recycling bin. In contrast, the toilet remained at the same place. The central dining structure consisting of tables and chair has been retained in both layout, appears to be slightly reduced in size to accommodate additional facilities. Although, outside seating arrangements were introduced , positioning near the newly added barbeque station making the plan feasi
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 cafe redesign, such as the addition of new counters and the retention of the central dining area. However, the report is incomplete; it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('making the plan feasi'), which prevents a full summary of the information. While the key changes are identified, the lack of a concluding sentence and the unfinished nature of the final point mean that the task is not fully addressed. To reach a higher band, ensure that all observations are clearly stated and that the report reaches a logical conclusion, providing a comprehensive overview of the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, though the final paragraph is incomplete. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In contrast' are used to link ideas, which helps the flow. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the overall coherence. Referencing is generally clear, but the mechanical use of some transitions could be improved for better flow. The logical progression is hindered by the unfinished sentence at the end, which leaves the reader without a sense of completion. Improving the structure of the final paragraph and ensuring a cohesive summary would significantly improve this score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'reorganised', 'accommodate', and 'sustainable'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'The two floor plan illustrates' (should be plural 'plans') and 'barbeque counter were introduced' (missing article). The range is sufficient to describe the changes, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more varied and precise vocabulary to describe spatial changes and ensure that articles and plurals are used correctly to maintain professional tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The two floor plan illustrates') and missing articles ('replaced with take away counter'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and the incomplete final sentence. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently enough to occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and ensure all sentences are complete and punctuated correctly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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