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 maps illustrate the changes that occurred in a college cafe before and after renovation and how it looks now.

Overall, there is expansion of the cafe by the addition of some facilities like outdoor seating and barbeque setups. In the seating area of the cafe, different amenities are included.

Firstly, before renovation, there was one entrance from the eastern side of the cafe. Then, on the left side of the entrance, there was a bin and toilets adjacent to the bin. Next, on the northern side of the seating area, there were two staff dining rooms. Additionally, on the northwest corner, there was a kitchen and a serving area right next to it.

Furthermore, after renovation, there is the addition of two entrances, and now there are three. Moreover, outdoor seating and a barbeque area are added on the southern side of the cafe. Bins are transformed into recycling bins. Two staff dining rooms are changed into a coffee bar and takeaway food rooms. In the end, there is an addition of a salad bar in the seating area of the cafe located on the western side. The serving area is converted into a hot meal point, but the kitchen remains unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the structural changes and the addition of new facilities. You provided a clear overview and compared the 'before' and 'after' states effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more precise spatial descriptions. For example, instead of saying 'on the left side of the entrance', use more specific directional language like 'to the immediate west of the entrance'. Additionally, while you mentioned the kitchen remains unchanged, highlighting more specific comparative details—such as the relocation of the serving area—would strengthen your response. Overall, you covered all key aspects of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Your essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the 'before' and 'after' states. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'In the end' to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the progression between sentences is smoother. For instance, instead of starting every sentence with a prepositional phrase, vary your sentence structure to improve the flow. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'renovation', 'amenities', 'adjacent', and 'converted' appropriately. You successfully describe the changes using specific terminology related to the layout. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'undergone a transformation' or 'reconfigured'. While your word choice is generally accurate and does not impede communication, there is room to move beyond basic descriptive language to show more precision and variety in your lexical choices.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free. There are minor issues with article usage and prepositional accuracy, such as 'there is expansion of the cafe' (should be 'there is an expansion') and 'in the end' (which is slightly unnatural in this context; 'finally' or 'additionally' would be better). Despite these minor slips, your grammar is generally controlled, and your meaning is always clear. To reach a higher band, aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure consistent accuracy with articles and prepositions.

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.