Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates the layout changes in the cafe before and after the redesign.

Overall, the cafe was transformed to improve to manage client flow and functionality and expand its menu by adding new items. Initially, the kitchen is main area of any cafe and restaurant. It remains the same and no change occurred however the kitchen was the main area where all the foods and drinks were served was transformed into a hot meal section.

After the redesign, the hall was almost entirely changed. In the west, cafe authorities constructed a salad bar that occupied some space.Furthermore, the staff dining rooms were switched to take-away food and coffee bar in order to increase the variety of commodities in the menu.Whereas, the toilets zone remained untouched and the door on the left of the toilets was constructed, and an ordinary bin was replaced with a recycling bin to safeguard the environment.

Moreover, the cafe expanded its area; a barbecue stall and seating zone were added outside, and an additional door was built in the cafe toward barbecue.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of the salad bar, the conversion of the kitchen, and the expansion into the outdoor area. However, the response lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, which is essential for a high band score. The description of the kitchen is somewhat confusing and repetitive, and some details are slightly inaccurate or unclear, such as the mention of 'cafe authorities' constructing the bar. To improve, ensure your overview highlights the most striking transformations rather than just listing changes, and focus on providing a more precise spatial description of the layout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the description. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Whereas', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between the hall changes and the toilets is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that the relationship between different parts of the cafe is clearly articulated through better signposting.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transformed', 'functionality', and 'commodities'. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'commodities' to describe menu items and 'toilets zone' which sounds slightly unnatural. Additionally, there is some repetition of basic verbs. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial descriptions, such as 'relocated', 'partitioned', 'converted', or 'extended'. Expanding your range of collocations will help you move toward a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For example, 'the cafe was transformed to improve to manage client flow' contains a redundant infinitive, and 'the kitchen is main area' lacks an article. There are also issues with tense consistency and punctuation, such as missing commas after introductory phrases. While your meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the writing from being considered error-free. Focus on proofreading for articles, subject-verb agreement, and consistent verb tenses.

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

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