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 comprising outdoor seating and barbecue setups. In the seating area of the cafe, new amenities are included, such as a coffee bar, salad bar, and other features.

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. Subsequently, 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 altered into a coffee bar and takeaway food rooms. Finally, 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

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe renovation. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted key changes, such as the expansion of entrances, the addition of outdoor facilities, and the repurposing of internal rooms. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is logical and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that you integrate the data more fluidly rather than listing changes in a sequential, point-by-point manner. For instance, grouping the structural changes (entrances) separately from the functional changes (amenities) would provide a more analytical approach rather than just describing the map.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Subsequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' to guide the reader through the changes. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the transition between sentences can occasionally feel a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary the way you link ideas; instead of starting every sentence with a temporal or additive connector, try using relative clauses or participle phrases to combine related information, which would create a more natural flow of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'renovation', 'amenities', 'adjacent', and 'converted'. The vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the task. However, the range is somewhat limited to standard descriptive terms. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise collocations or sophisticated synonyms for change, such as 'transformed', 'reconfigured', 'relocated', or 'underwent a complete overhaul'. Avoid repeating the same structures when describing the location of items, as this limits the lexical variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and the meaning is always clear. You have used passive voice effectively to describe the changes (e.g., 'bins are transformed', 'two staff dining rooms are altered'). There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or more advanced relative clauses, to demonstrate greater control over grammatical range.

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

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