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 given maps depicts the information regarding the layout of college cafe before and after renovation.
Overall, Many areas replaced by the newly invented areas and many new sections are installed after the refurbishment such as outdoor seating and a barbecue.
Firstly, the kitchen is at the same place with the serving area where all drinks and food served at one single place. Moreover, tables and chairs were at the center in both design.
Furthermore, the staff dining rooms were replaced with to new sections such takeaway food and coffee bar, on the other hand the bins were changed into recycling bins were near the entrance of the cafe and toilets were at same place at bottom side of the cafe.
There were outdoor seating area newly designed at the outside and a barbecue at the left side of the cafe as well as also a salad bar installed in the same side of a barbecue.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a general overview and identifies key changes, such as the addition of outdoor seating and a barbecue. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial layout. For example, stating the kitchen is 'at the same place' is vague, and the description of the salad bar and barbecue location is confusing. The overview is somewhat simplistic, and the report would benefit from a more structured comparison of the specific zones (e.g., the removal of staff dining rooms vs. the addition of the coffee bar). While the main features are covered, the lack of clear, comparative detail prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is inconsistent, and the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. For instance, the transition in the fourth paragraph regarding the bins and toilets is abrupt and lacks logical connection. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'in the same side of a barbecue', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial progression. Improving the logical grouping of information—perhaps by grouping changes by area rather than listing them—would enhance coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'newly invented areas' (which is inappropriate for furniture or room layouts) and 'at bottom side of the cafe'. The repetition of basic words like 'place' and 'side' limits the range. To improve, you should use more precise terminology related to floor plans, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'adjacent to', or 'situated in the corner'. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning but does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('The given maps depicts'), article usage ('the kitchen is at the same place'), and sentence structure ('There were outdoor seating area newly designed'). The use of complex sentences is limited, and many sentences are simple or contain structural errors. For example, 'the bins were changed into recycling bins were near the entrance' is a run-on sentence with incorrect clause connection. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing the 'before' and 'after' states will help improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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