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 effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe before and after the renovation, such as the addition of the outdoor seating, the barbecue area, and the transformation of the staff dining rooms. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the changes. You have made relevant comparisons between the two plans, which is essential for this task. The information is well-selected, and the report is accurate based on the provided visual data. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant changes rather than listing every single detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the 'before' and 'after' states. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Subsequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' to link your sentences and paragraphs. While the use of these devices is generally effective, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is grouped logically by time period, which helps the reader navigate the changes clearly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'renovation', 'amenities', 'adjacent', 'transformed', and 'converted'. This allows for a clear description of the spatial changes. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler descriptive terms. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or varied synonyms for spatial descriptions (e.g., 'situated in the northern quadrant' instead of 'on the northern side'). The vocabulary used is accurate and does not impede communication, but it lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. You have used passive voice appropriately to describe the changes (e.g., 'bins are transformed', 'kitchen remains unchanged'). There are very few grammatical errors, and punctuation is generally correct. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with more complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses or more varied subordinate clauses to describe the spatial relationships between the different areas of the cafe.

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.