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 two maps illustrates the data of various changes in a college cafe before it was renovated and redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, What stands out from the graph is that most of the area is changed to several blocks. Sitting areas are also designed that were not there before. Another interesting point is that the Barbecue area is also developed in the left side of the center hall.
Looking at the details, There were two Staff dining rooms on the top middle of the central building which is then redesigned and changed into Take away food and Coffee bar. Furthermore, Dustbins are renovated to a recycling bin. Moreover, salad bar room is also built in the middle left of the area. However, there is no change in toilets and kitchen but serving area is converted to hot meals area.
Furthermore, if we look at the bottom of the cafe, this area was empty before but now there are sitting options available here, Barbecue is also available today and outdoor sitting is a huge change today.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, identifying key changes such as the addition of the barbecue area, the conversion of staff rooms, and the introduction of seating. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that 'most of the area is changed', this is vague. A stronger overview would group the changes more effectively, such as noting the shift from a staff-focused layout to a more customer-oriented, multi-functional space. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly inaccurate, such as referring to the plans as 'maps' or 'graphs', which is inappropriate for architectural floor plans. To improve, ensure you clearly contrast the 'before' and 'after' states with more precise spatial language.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the description. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'However' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. The transition between sentences could be smoother; for instance, the jump from discussing the staff rooms to dustbins feels abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'this area was empty before', which would be better if you specified the location (e.g., 'the southern section'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'renovated', 'redesigned', 'converted', and 'multi-functional'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, referring to the plans as 'maps' or 'graphs' is incorrect; they are 'floor plans' or 'diagrams'. You also use 'developed' in a way that is slightly unnatural when describing the barbecue area. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'partitioned', or 'replaced', and ensure that your terminology accurately reflects the visual data provided.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The two maps illustrates') and incorrect article usage ('the Barbecue area'). You also have some punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary capitalization of 'What' and 'There' in the middle of sentences. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentence structure remains consistent and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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