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 the renovation.

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 the 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 the 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. The bins are replaced by 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 the main features of the cafe renovation. You have clearly identified the key changes, such as the expansion of entrances, the addition of outdoor facilities, and the repurposing of internal rooms. The overview provides a good summary of the transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more explicit; for example, instead of listing features in separate paragraphs, you could more directly contrast the 'before' and 'after' states to highlight the scale of the changes. Overall, you have successfully addressed all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Subsequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' helps guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. To improve, try to vary the cohesive devices to make the flow feel more natural rather than relying on a list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'renovation', 'amenities', 'adjacent', and 'converted'. The terminology is accurate and appropriate for the context of describing a floor plan. There are no significant errors in word choice. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more precise collocations or descriptive adjectives to enhance the sophistication of your writing, such as 'underwent a significant transformation' or 'strategically positioned'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There are no major grammatical slips that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with more complex sentence structures, such as using passive voice to describe the changes (e.g., 'The kitchen was retained while the serving area was transformed into a hot meal point') to add variety and academic tone.

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

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