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 following ideas illustrates the map of old cafeteria earlier it was being renovated and afterwards it was restructured.
Overall, the serving area was changed into hot meals Moreover, one of the staff dining room was changed into take away food while the left of dining room was changed into coffee bar. Salad bar and barbecue area were also introduced in the cafe.
One of the major change was the outdoor sitting with a barbecue area on the right corner. serving area was changed into hot meals. On the north west corner the staff dining room was changed in to take away food and the other staff dining room was replaced by coffee bar and also there were several additions in the quantity of the recycling bin. There was no visible change in the positions of toilets while on the north west side salad bar was constructed. The position of kitchen was same as before the renovation.
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, including the addition of the salad bar, barbecue area, and the reconfiguration of the dining spaces. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. The summary provided is somewhat repetitive and lacks a cohesive synthesis of the changes. While the key features are identified, the description of the 'north west corner' is slightly confusing as it repeats information already mentioned. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant trends, such as the shift towards more diverse food options and the expansion of outdoor seating, rather than simply listing changes in a fragmented manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of varied cohesive devices. For instance, the phrase 'was changed into' is used repeatedly, which makes the text feel mechanical. While there is an attempt to use transition words like 'Moreover' and 'Overall', the connection between sentences is often weak. The progression of information is somewhat disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the description jumps between different areas of the cafe without a clear spatial logic. Improving the use of referencing and varied linking words would significantly enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is a heavy reliance on basic verbs such as 'changed' and 'replaced'. Some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'the left of dining room' instead of 'the remaining dining area'. There are also minor errors in collocation, such as 'additions in the quantity of the recycling bin', which sounds unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and ensure that nouns are used with appropriate articles and prepositions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The following ideas illustrates') and incorrect preposition usage ('changed in to take away food'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and capitalization errors. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and consistent use of articles will help improve the overall accuracy of your writing.
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.