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 in college canteen before and after its redevelopment.

Overall, it is clear that cafe underwent major changes, with new sections for take away food and coffee bar. In addition, two new areas are designed for BBQ and salad bar, while the most noticeable development is the addition of a new outdoor sitting place for the people.

Previously, there was a serving place for all food and drinks inside kitchen which now has been replaced with only hot meals. Moreover, there were two staff dining rooms in the main hall which are now converted into seprate area for food take away and coffee bar.

On the left side of indoor dining area, a new salad bar is constructed while on the extreme right side of indoor hall there are additional recycling bins placed. Whereas, the toilets besides the trash bins area remained same.

Lastly, the design of cafe involve the construction of barbecue site and outdoor sitting place which is on left side of cafe building accessible through the doors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, including the new service areas and the outdoor seating. You have provided a clear overview and supported it with specific details from the plans. However, the report could be improved by making more direct comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. For instance, while you mention the kitchen was replaced, you could more explicitly contrast the reduction in indoor dining space with the expansion of service facilities. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the redesign. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, in the third paragraph, the phrase 'which now has been replaced' is a bit clunky. Improving the flow between sentences would help achieve a higher band. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'constructed', and 'converted'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'sitting place' instead of 'seating area' and 'serving place' instead of 'service counter'. Additionally, there is a spelling error ('seprate'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to architectural changes and spatial descriptions. Despite these minor issues, the vocabulary is adequate to convey your meaning clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'the design of cafe involve' (should be 'involves') and 'remained same' (should be 'remained the same'). Articles are occasionally missing, such as 'on left side' instead of 'on the left side'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of definite articles when describing specific locations on a map.

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

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