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 maps ~~redesign~~
The maps illustrates the comparison of a college cafe before and after its redesigned.
Overall, after redesign the cafe has changed some ~~&~~ area ~~into~~ for different purpose and ~~also~~ have also added new rooms and arena which shows the progression of ~~the~~ cafe as more organized than before.
Firstly, there are ~~so~~ many things that have not replaced such as kitchen, tables and chairs, bins, and toilets. However, the serving area of all food and drink ~~got~~ replaced into hot meals section while staff dining rooms ~~@~~ changed into two different sections as food serving and coffee bar.
Moreover, ~~some~~ new ~~op~~ section ~~are~~ ~~were~~ added like salad bar near the door of kitchen and hot meals. A ~~area~~ for barbecue ~~is~~ is built outside of the cafe and for ~~pen~~ students who prefer eating while engaging natural viewe outdoor seating place is ~~designed~~ added next to the barbecue section. This ~~that~~ clearly shows that the cafe ~~has le~~ ~~pro~~ developed positively ~~and now~~ ~~#~~ with more new sections and facilities for the students. ~~Area~~ ~~o~~ ~~Then~~
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, identifying key changes such as the new salad bar, barbecue area, and outdoor seating. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, professional summary of the most significant transformations. While the main features are reported, the description of the 'before' state is slightly vague, and the connection between the two plans could be more analytical. The response addresses the requirements of the task, but the lack of precise spatial language and a more sophisticated overview limits the depth of the analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the repetitive use of 'Moreover' and 'Firstly'. There are instances where the flow is interrupted by grammatical errors, making the logical progression feel a bit disjointed at times. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure would benefit from more varied linking words and a more cohesive transition between the description of the interior and the exterior changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There is a reliance on basic verbs like 'changed' and 'added'. Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'arena' to describe a cafe section, which is not contextually appropriate. There are also minor errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'natural viewe' instead of 'natural view'. To improve, you should focus on using more specific terminology related to floor plans and spatial descriptions, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', or 'adjacent'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The maps illustrates'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'have not replaced' instead of 'have not been replaced'), and awkward phrasing. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels forced. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on passive voice construction for describing changes would be highly beneficial.
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.