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)
These images tell us about the cafe before redesiging and cafe today. Several changes were made inside of the cafe as well as outside.
Some areas are still on their original location like kitchen, tables and chairs. Moreover addition of new premises can be seen like outdoor seating, salad bar. While some areas are replaced with new functionality.
Serving area (all food & drinks) is changed with hot meals, whereas, staff dining rooms have been replaced with take away food and coffee bar. Moreover, simple bins are replaced with recycling bins to protect the nature. Whereas, the tables and chairs kept on their original location.
On the bottom left, there is an addition of salad bar to serve the customers. Along with this, on the lower left a new area is introduced which is known as barbecue. Additionally, outdoor seating is also a part of cafe now and it is a new addition in cafe as well. Overall significant changes can be seen in the cafe.
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, identifying key changes such as the addition of the salad bar, barbecue, and outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, which is a requirement for Band 7. The description is somewhat fragmented, focusing on individual items rather than synthesizing the information effectively. While the task is addressed, the lack of a cohesive summary and some minor inaccuracies in describing the layout (e.g., the kitchen location) prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure you provide a clear 'overview' paragraph that highlights the most striking changes at the beginning or end of the report.
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 sometimes mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'moreover' and 'whereas'. The logical progression between sentences is occasionally interrupted by abrupt transitions. For example, the jump from discussing bins to tables in the third paragraph feels disjointed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, rather than just listing changes in a sequence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes clearly. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on basic descriptors. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'redesiging' (spelling) and 'protect the nature' (which should be 'protect the environment'). The use of 'new premises' is also slightly inaccurate in this context. To improve, incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'integrated', to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of English.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally affect the flow. For instance, 'These images tell us about the cafe before redesiging and cafe today' lacks articles and correct prepositional usage. Additionally, 'tables and chairs kept on their original location' is missing a verb (should be 'were kept'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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