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 maps illustrate that how cafe was looked like and how it looks now after adjustments.
Overall, it is clear that cafe become more developed, with many original features being removed or replaced. barbecue area has been added with outdoor seating. Hot meals, salad bar, take away food, coffee bar and recycling bins were added while kitchen and tables and chairs seating are unchanged.
Before redesign, there was a serving area for all food and drink has now been replaced by counter only for hot meals. There is addition of salad bar at the west side of the cafe. Staff diniing rooms are now replaced with two different counters, take away food and coffee bar.
Tables and chairs are still in their original place. one bin is now replaced with multiple recycling bins for waste materials. Furthermore, toilets still occupy the same area. There is addition of barbecue area as a extention part, with a outdoor seating for people to enjoy.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the redesign, including the addition of the barbecue area and the reconfiguration of the serving counters. You successfully identified the key changes and noted what remained unchanged, such as the seating area and toilets. However, the overview is slightly generic. To reach a higher band, ensure your summary highlights the most significant spatial shifts more precisely. For instance, mentioning the transition from a single serving area to specialized counters provides a clearer picture of the transformation. The information is generally accurate, though the description of the 'west side' could be more clearly linked to the visual evidence provided in the plans.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to specific details about the changes. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions between sentences. For example, the jump between the description of the serving area and the salad bar could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'there is/are'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redesigned', 'adjustments', and 'reconfiguration' (implied). However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'cafe was looked like' and 'extention part'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations related to describing maps and changes, such as 'undergone a transformation' or 'relocated'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for spatial layout will help you achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('a outdoor seating', 'the west side') and verb tense consistency ('cafe was looked like'). Some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as 'Staff diniing rooms are now replaced with two different counters, take away food and coffee bar.' While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the content, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.