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 an expansion of the cafe by the addition of some facilities like outdoor seating and barbecue 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 barbecue 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 renovation, including the expansion of facilities and the addition of new areas. 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', use more specific directional language like 'in the southwest corner'. Additionally, ensure all major changes are highlighted; you mentioned the kitchen remained unchanged, which is a good analytical detail. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the 'before' and 'after' states. You used cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'In the end' to guide the reader. 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 of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'renovation', 'adjacent', 'transformed', and 'converted'. This allows for clear communication. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise, less common vocabulary related to architectural or spatial changes. For example, instead of 'there is an addition of', you could use 'the layout was augmented by' or 'the space was reconfigured to include'. Your word choices are generally accurate and appropriate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. There are minor issues with article usage and preposition choice, such as 'in the seating area of the cafe' which could be more concise. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions to describe the changes (e.g., 'The area was redesigned to accommodate...'), which would be very suitable for this type of task.

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

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