Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

THE MAP DEMONSTRATES A COLLEGE CAFETARIA IN THE PAST BEFORE IT WAS REDEVELOPED AND HOW IT TRANSFORMED IN THE PRESENT.

OVERALL, THE AREA UNDERWENT SIGNIFICANT REDEVELOPMENT, WITH SEVERAL NEW FACILITIES BEING ADDED AND SOME EXISTING STRUCTURES BEING REMOVED.

BEFORE IT WAS MODIFIED THERE HAD A KITCHEN IN THE NORTH EAST SIDE OF THE CAFE AND IT REMAINED UNCHANGED IN THE CURRENT LAYOUT. ALSO TO ITS DOWNSIDE THERE WERE SERVING AREA WHERE ALL FOOD MATERIALS AND DRINKS WERE SERVED FORMERLY , BUT NOW IT IS CONVERTED TO HOT MEALS. THERE WAS ONE ENTRANCE IN THE WEST SIDE OF THE CAFETERIA BUT NOW TWO MORE ENTRANCES ARE ADDED IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CAFE. PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS TWO STAFF DINING ROOMS NEAR THE ENTRY AREA , BUT IN THE CURRENT LAYOUT IT IS REPLACED BY TAKEAWAY FOOD AND COFFEE BAR. MOREOVER, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESTAURANT, THE SPACE FOR TABLES AND CHAIRS REMAINED UNCHANGED THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. THERE WAS A BIN IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE IN THE INITIAL PLAN BUT NOW IT IS CALLED RECYCLING BIN. THE LEFT OF THE BIN AREA HAD TOILETS WHICH ARE UNCHANGED IN THE NEW PLAN. THE SALAD BAR IS CONSTRUCTED IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE CAFE AS WELL AS BARBECUE AND OUTDOOR SEATING ARRANGEMENTS ARE CONSTRUCTED AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAFE,WHICH WAS NOT IN THE PREVIOUS PLANS.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign. You have clearly highlighted the changes, such as the new entrances, the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a takeaway area, and the addition of outdoor facilities. The overview provides a good summary of the transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure you avoid minor inaccuracies in detail; for example, you mentioned the kitchen remained unchanged, but the plan shows it was slightly modified in size/shape. Additionally, ensure all comparisons are precise to fully satisfy the 'make comparisons where relevant' requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The report is logically organized, moving from a general overview to specific details about the layout changes. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the report. You use some cohesive devices like 'before it was modified', 'also', and 'moreover' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally slightly mechanical, and some referencing is a bit repetitive. To improve, try to vary your transition words and ensure that the progression between sentences feels more natural rather than just listing features one by one.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'transformed', 'layout', and 'arrangements'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'food materials' (which is unnatural in this context) and 'downside' (which is not the correct directional term). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Focusing on more academic collocations related to maps and diagrams would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there had a kitchen' (should be 'there was a kitchen'), 'there was two staff dining rooms' (subject-verb agreement error), and issues with article usage and prepositions. These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the information. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of existential 'there is/are' structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.