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 maps compare the layout of redesigned University Cafe with its original layout.

Overall, the existing layout of cafe introduces new stations like a coffee bar, a salad bar and separate section for barbecue with outdoor seating while, before renovation all foods and drinks were serve in the common area.

Before its refurbishment, the two adjacent rooms were allocated for staff dining which in current layout is utilized for a coffee bar and take away food. Tables and chairs are arranged in same way as before with the addition to a salad bar and bins were replaced by larger recycling bins next to toilets.

An Additional Section is introduced in the current layout for barbecue with outdoor seating making proper utilization of space. The placement of kitchen and the area where hot meals are served remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the new coffee bar, salad bar, and barbecue section. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the depth of the analysis. While the overview is present, the description of the changes lacks sufficient detail to fully satisfy the task requirements. The failure to meet the minimum length requirement is a significant issue that prevents a higher score, as it results in an underdeveloped response that misses the opportunity to provide a more comprehensive comparison of the two layouts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the changes. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Before its refurbishment' and 'In the current layout', which help guide the reader. However, the flow between some sentences is slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall progression of ideas is hindered by the brevity of the text. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that transitions between ideas are more fluid and varied.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'refurbishment', 'allocated', and 'utilization' showing an attempt to use more academic language. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'existing layout of cafe introduces' and 'all foods and drinks were serve'. The range is somewhat limited, and the repetition of basic structures prevents the use of more sophisticated vocabulary. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of descriptive verbs and nouns related to spatial changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'were serve' instead of 'were served', and missing articles, for example, 'layout of cafe' instead of 'layout of the cafe'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is occasionally awkward. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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