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 picture decpits the before and after plan of a college cafe.In the before plan area there were no additional outdoor seating area, and a barbecue area but the new designed has these both area loacated. In, the new redesigned plan there are door connecting outdoor seating area and barbecue section.The before plan only consisted of a bin, but in new plan there is an option for recycling. The staff dinning rooms is now divided into to two section in new plan thatg is take away food section and coffee bar has its own dedicated space, where people can order separetly without having to wait at the kitchen area.The serving area for all foods & drinks in the old plan is now converted to only hot meals in the redesigned plan. The salad bar is added in new plan which is the new addition, where, the old design did not have dedicated salad bar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of outdoor seating, the barbecue area, and the recycling bin. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph, which is essential for Task 1. The information is presented as a list of observations rather than a cohesive summary of the main trends. While the key changes are identified, the lack of an introductory overview and the somewhat disjointed presentation of features limit the score. To improve, ensure you include a clear opening statement that summarizes the most significant changes before detailing specific features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of information. The text is presented as a single block, which is not appropriate for an IELTS report. While there is some attempt to use cohesive devices like 'In the before plan' and 'in the new redesigned plan', the flow is often mechanical and repetitive. The lack of logical grouping of ideas—such as grouping structural changes versus functional changes—hinders the overall coherence. To improve, organize your response into at least three paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and one or two body paragraphs detailing the specific changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the intended meaning, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. There are several spelling errors, such as 'decpits' (depicts), 'loacated' (located), 'dinning' (dining), and 'separetly' (separately). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying heavily on basic descriptors like 'new plan' and 'old plan'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more varied synonyms for 'plan' (e.g., 'layout', 'configuration') and more precise verbs to describe the changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', or 'incorporated'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'the new designed has these both area loacated' (the new design has both of these areas located) and 'The staff dinning rooms is now divided into to two section' (The staff dining room is now divided into two sections). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralization.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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