Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04
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 represented diagram shows the before and after image of a college cafe that has been redesigned.
Overall, it is evident that expansion of the cafe has been made. It can now cater to large populations with upgraded services and features.
To begin with, few areas namely kitchen and toilets have remained the same even after the renovation. However, services provided by the kitchen has changed slightly as it currently only makes hot meals and it no longer has serving area for all foods and drinks. Furthermore, on the left side while existing the kitchen, there is a salad bar and across opposite to the salad bar there is recycling bins placed, which is upgrade of the old bin. Similarly, the staff dining rooms are divided into two sections, which currently is serves take away food and coffee.
The old cafe did not have outside sitting area; however, the upgraded cafe has constructed
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to complete the task as it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('the upgraded cafe has constructed'). Because the description is incomplete, the key features of the redesign—specifically the outdoor seating and the overall layout changes—are not fully reported. While the overview identifies the expansion, the lack of a conclusion and the unfinished final sentence mean that the information is not fully processed or presented. To reach a higher band, you must ensure all visual information is described and that the report is finished in its entirety, providing a complete summary of the changes shown in the diagrams.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response uses basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. Paragraphing is attempted, but the abrupt ending disrupts the logical flow of the report. The progression of information is generally clear in the first half, but the failure to complete the final point prevents a coherent conclusion. Referencing is mostly clear, though some phrasing, such as 'while existing the kitchen', is awkward and impacts the smooth flow of the text. Improving the transition between the description of the interior and the exterior would enhance the overall structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. You use some relevant terms like 'redesigned', 'expansion', and 'renovation', but there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'large populations' (instead of 'more customers') and 'across opposite to' (which is redundant). The phrase 'while existing the kitchen' is also incorrect; 'exiting' was likely intended. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing spatial changes and ensure that collocations are natural and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('services provided by the kitchen has changed' should be 'have changed') and incorrect verb forms ('currently is serves' should be 'currently serves'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete sentence at the end is a significant error. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that you proofread your work to avoid unfinished thoughts, which significantly detracts from the grammatical control demonstrated.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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