Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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 layouts depicts the transformation of a cafe within a college providing us with plans of before and after.

Overall, we can identify that any extra area has not been occupied in the new layout. The plan mainly remains identical except for few negligible changes like increasing the number of recycle bins in the new cafe and providing people with plenty of seating area.

The cafe before it was redesigned had a serving area within a kitchen for all food and meals whereas, in the current model that particular area is used to create hot meals. Serving area is instead turned into take away food which now occupies the space of staff dining rooms. In the previous cafe, two of the rooms in the plan were allotted for the staff to dine and in the present map, one of the other room is used for a coffee bar. The number of recycle bins used has been increased.

In the cafe before redesign there was only one entrance and exit but in the new plan we can find additional door for people to enter and exit. Toilets did not have any changes made to it whereas additional facilities like a seated bar has been provided right in front of the kitchen. Furthermore, a barbecue has been added outside of the cafe today equipped with a large number of outdoor seating. Tables and chairs available in the center of the cafe did not undergo and visible changes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the changes to the kitchen, seating, and the addition of the barbecue area. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial changes. For instance, stating that 'any extra area has not been occupied' is a generalisation that could be more accurately supported by noting the conversion of internal space. The description of the layout changes is somewhat confusing, particularly regarding the movement of the serving area and staff rooms. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that comparisons are more clearly linked to the specific locations on the map rather than using vague references like 'one of the other room'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the overview to specific details. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'furthermore', and 'in the previous cafe' are used to link ideas. However, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'one of the other room', which makes it difficult to track exactly which part of the cafe is being discussed. The flow between sentences is generally logical, but the mechanical nature of some transitions prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Improving the clarity of spatial references would significantly enhance the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transformation', 'allotted', and 'negligible'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'present map' (which should be 'current layout' or 'redesigned plan') and 'did not undergo and visible changes' (a typo for 'any'). While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, the errors occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on using precise terminology for describing architectural changes and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate for a formal report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The given layouts depicts' (subject-verb agreement) and 'one of the other room' (pluralisation error). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage issues throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that plural nouns are used correctly after phrases like 'one of the'. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help boost your score.

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

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