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 design illustrates a high school canteen before it replanned and how its shows today.

Overall, Few changes has been made however table and chair area is constant, the major differences has been in staff dinning room.

Cafe before redesign had some kitchen area along with serving area, then if we move forward, we have huge area of table and chairs, but in the same area we have two room which is staff dinning rooms, and if we take exit from the right room there is the placement of bin. lastly we have a toilets room.

In Cafe today, table and chairs, kitchen and toilets area are same as they were before, but the major different is in staff dinning room which is now take away food and coffee bar, they have included salad bar in the tables and chairs area, they have also included outdoor seating along with barbecue, further more they have renamed some of the room's tittle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, identifying key changes such as the conversion of the staff dining room into a takeaway/coffee bar and the addition of outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant trends, and the description of the layout is somewhat disjointed. The student identifies the main features but struggles to present them in a clear, analytical way. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is present, but the lack of precise spatial language makes the report difficult to follow for a reader who cannot see the original image.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'then if we move forward' or 'if we take exit'. These phrases do not effectively guide the reader through the spatial layout of the cafe. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the description of the 'before' and 'after' states lacks a sophisticated structure. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the internal progression of ideas within those paragraphs is often repetitive and lacks cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'huge area of table and chairs' and 'toilets room' are basic and lack the precision required for describing architectural plans. There are several word-choice errors, such as 'before it replanned' (should be 'was replanned') and 'room's tittle' (should be 'room titles'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision needed for a higher band score. The student relies on simple, everyday language rather than task-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('Few changes has been made', 'major differences has been'), incorrect verb forms ('before it replanned'), and awkward sentence structures ('how its shows today'). While the student attempts some complex sentences, they are often faulty. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and apostrophes. The range of structures is limited, and the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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