Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The plans below illustrate a college cafe before it was renovated and how it looks now.

Overall, the layout has transformed significantly. While some structures were rearranged, others were also introduced and demolished.

Before redesigning, the north eastern part had a kitchen and a serving area for all food and drinks. Currently, the serving area has been replaced by hot meals while the kitchen remained unchanged. Although the central area that was initially covered by tables and chairs remained the same, a salad bar was introduced on its left. The bin that was situated on the right side was expanded to a recycling bin but the toilets on the right conner remained unchanged.

The staff rooms area that were originally located near the serving area has been changed to a take away food and a coffee bar. A barbecue and an outdoor seating has been introduced on the southern region which was initially unused.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign well. You have successfully identified key changes, such as the introduction of the salad bar, the conversion of the staff room into a takeaway/coffee area, and the addition of outdoor facilities. However, the report could be improved by providing a clearer overview of the most significant changes rather than just listing them. While you mention the layout transformed significantly, highlighting the shift from a purely indoor space to one with outdoor amenities would have strengthened the summary. The information is accurate, and the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is clear throughout the text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'while', 'although', and 'initially' to connect ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the description of the interior changes from the new outdoor additions. The progression of information is easy to follow, moving logically from the kitchen area to the central seating and finally to the staff room and outdoor space. The flow is generally smooth, though some transitions could be slightly more sophisticated to enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'renovated', 'rearranged', 'demolished', and 'transformed'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'right conner' (should be 'corner') and 'staff rooms area that were' (subject-verb agreement error). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the more precise, academic collocations that would elevate the response to a higher band. Using more varied descriptive language for the changes, such as 'converted into' or 'replaced by', would improve the lexical quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'While' and 'Although' clauses. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'staff rooms area that were' should be 'staff room area that was', and 'an outdoor seating' is incorrect as 'seating' is an uncountable noun. Additionally, 'right conner' contains a spelling error. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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