Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07
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 plans compare the layout of College Cafe before and after it was redesigned.
Overall, the existing layout of cafe introduces new stations like coffee bar, salad bar and separate section for barbecue with outing sitting while before renovating all foods and drinks where serve in common area.
In its original layout, the two adjacent rooms were allocated for staff dining which in current layout is utilized for coffee bar and take away food. Tables and chairs are arranged in same way as before with addition to salad bar with larger recycling bins facing opposite to each other.
Additional Section is introduced in current layout for barbecue with outing seating making proper utilization of space. The place of kitchen and hot meals served are not
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the task. While the student identifies some key features, such as the new coffee bar and the barbecue section, the description is incomplete and ends abruptly mid-sentence. The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail to fully capture the extent of the changes. Because the response is under-length and unfinished, it does not fully address all parts of the task, leading to a lower score in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In its original layout' and 'Overall', but the flow is disrupted by grammatical errors and the sudden termination of the writing. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the logical development of the comparison is not fully realized due to the lack of sufficient content.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'redesigned', 'allocated', and 'utilization'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'outing sitting' (likely meaning 'outdoor seating') and 'where serve' (should be 'were served'). The range of vocabulary is limited, and the errors occasionally cause the reader to pause to interpret the intended meaning. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for describing spatial changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'before renovating all foods and drinks where serve in common area' (incorrect tense and passive voice construction) and 'Tables and chairs are arranged in same way as before with addition to salad bar'. Punctuation is also inconsistent. The errors are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader, and the incomplete final sentence prevents a full assessment of grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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