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 diagrams compare the layout change of a college cafe before and after renovation. Overall, the cafe has become more moderate and convenient. Several new food services were added. While the staff was dining, they were replaced by takeaway food and a coffee bar. In addition to outdoor seating, barbecue and recycling bins were introduced. Before the redesign, the kitchen was located in the top of the left corner, with one serving area for all food and drink in the front of it. and toilets were located in the bottom corner. After the redesign, the kitchen remained in the same place, but the serving area was replaced by a hot meal. The two staff dining rooms were removed and changed into a takeaway and coffee bar. Additionally, a barbecue and salad bar are located on the left side of the cafe. Furthermore, a new outdoor seating area was built in the front of the cafe. Finally, the single bin was replaced with a recycling bin, although the toilets remained in the same location.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview of the changes and identifies the main features, such as the addition of the coffee bar and outdoor seating. However, the description is occasionally inaccurate; for instance, the student mentions that 'staff was dining' were replaced, whereas the plan shows 'staff dining' rooms being converted. Additionally, the phrase 'serving area was replaced by a hot meal' is imprecise, as it refers to the function of the area rather than the physical change. While the main trends are captured, the report would benefit from more precise terminology regarding the spatial layout and the specific nature of the modifications.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized, moving from a general overview to specific details. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the report. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition to', 'After the redesign', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the sentence 'the kitchen was located in the top of the left corner, with one serving area for all food and drink in the front of it. and toilets were located in the bottom corner.' The punctuation error here disrupts the flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the changes. There are some attempts at using specific terminology, such as 'renovation' and 'layout change'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as describing the cafe as 'more moderate'—a word that does not fit the context of a floor plan description. The phrase 'replaced by a hot meal' is also lexically weak, as it confuses the service provided with the physical space. A wider range of precise spatial and descriptive vocabulary would improve the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'in the top of the left corner' is awkward phrasing, and the sentence starting with 'and toilets' is a fragment. There are also issues with preposition usage, such as 'in the front of the cafe' instead of 'at the front'. Despite these errors, the grammatical mistakes do not significantly impede communication, and the student demonstrates an ability to construct complex sentences, even if they are not always perfectly accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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