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 proportion of college cafe. It tell us how it looks before redesigned and after new construction.

Overall, the major difference is that now college cafe have a huge area of canteen which includes a small portion for different kind of meals. While, college cafe also introduces the outdoor sittings which was not include in the previous one.

Moreover, the college cafe before the redesign only had one canteen where all kind of food and drink offered. But now there is a specific area for hot meals, salad bar and for the sitting tables and chair are same as before. As, before there were two dining rooms which is now replaced with coffee bars or for take-away food.

In addition, new place is introduced which is specifically, for barbecue and for this there is also a outdoor sitting for numerous of people. While, the kitchen, recycling bins, and toilets are same as before.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the redesign, such as the new outdoor seating, the barbecue area, and the changes to the canteen layout. However, the description of the changes is somewhat imprecise. For example, stating that the 'sitting tables and chair are same as before' is inaccurate based on the visual evidence, and the description of the dining rooms being replaced by coffee bars is slightly confusing. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that your summary of the visual data is more accurate and clearly distinguishes between what has been removed, added, or kept the same, using more precise comparative language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'While, college cafe also introduces...' and 'As, before there were...'. The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, making the connection between the 'before' and 'after' states feel disjointed. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help the flow of the report significantly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is a reliance on basic descriptors like 'huge area', 'small portion', and 'new place'. Some word choices are inaccurate or non-standard, such as 'proportion of college cafe' (which should be 'layout' or 'floor plan') and 'outdoor sittings' (which should be 'outdoor seating'). To improve, focus on using more specific terminology related to architectural plans and spatial arrangements, and ensure that your collocations are natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('college cafe have', 'it tell us'), missing articles ('the' before 'college cafe'), and incorrect verb tenses ('which was not include'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. You should focus on proofreading for basic errors such as pluralisation, article usage, and consistent verb tense application when describing changes.

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

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