Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The provided floor plans illustrate how the layout of a college cafe has transformed after its redevelopment.

Overall, the cafe has undergone significant changes including expansion of seating area along with the renovation of staff dining rooms.

Before redesigning, the layout consisted of a room to the upper left corner that accommodated a kitchen along with a serving area below it ,where every type of food and drink used to be served. In the middle of the layout, there were two separate but attached dining rooms that were exclusively reserved for the cafe staff. In addition, toilets were provided at the lower right corner of the cafe with a small bin positioned above them. Furthermore, the outside area at the lower end of the plan was largely empty and the inside area was largely occupied by tables and chairs to provide seating for the customers.

After redesigning, the kitchen area remains primarily unchanged but the serving area has been repurposed to serve hot meals only. On the other hand, the staff dining rooms were divided into two separate rooms, the one on the right has been turned into a coffee bar while the one on the left is now being utilized to order take away food. A separate salad bar has been opened to the left of the cafe and opposite to the bin area. Moreover, the single bin on the right has been replaced by much larger recycling bins. Similarly, the toilets and chairs from the previous plan remains the same. Notably, a large outdoor seating has been provided for the customers to sit and relax and a barbecue section has been opened to the lower left corner of the cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all key features of the cafe redesign. You have successfully identified the main changes, such as the repurposing of the staff dining rooms, the addition of the salad bar, and the expansion of the outdoor seating area. The overview provides a clear summary of the transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more analytical; for instance, instead of just listing changes, you could explicitly contrast the 'before' and 'after' states more fluidly. The description of the kitchen remaining 'primarily unchanged' while the serving area was repurposed is a good example of highlighting specific, relevant details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the original layout to the redesigned one. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' to link your points. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary the placement of these devices and ensure that the relationship between sentences is always clear, particularly when describing spatial changes.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'repurposed', 'accommodated', and 'utilized'. There is an awareness of style appropriate for an academic report. However, there are minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'outside area at the lower end of the plan' or 'the single bin on the right'. Using more precise terminology for spatial descriptions would enhance the quality of your writing. Overall, the vocabulary is adequate and allows for clear communication of the information presented in the diagrams.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are several error-free sentences, and your control of grammar is generally good. However, there are occasional slips, such as 'the toilets and chairs from the previous plan remains the same' (subject-verb agreement error) and minor punctuation issues, like the unnecessary space before the comma in 'below it ,where'. Despite these, your meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede the reader's understanding. Increasing the variety of complex structures would help elevate your score further.

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

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