Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 illustrations show the layout of a college cafe before and after redesign.

Overall, the initial structure remains the same as before except for an outdoor extension of the cafe. The serving area is now distributed into separate rooms based on types. However, the staff dinning rooms are no longer in the present plan.

Previously, the cafe had a serving area on the south of the kitchen which is now dedicated to hot meals only. The staff dinning rooms were transformed into a take away food room and a coffee bar respectively. A new salad bar is constructed on the west side to the tables and chairs which are unchanged.

The bin which was on the east side of the cafe is replaced into recycling bins with almost double space than before. A new addition to the current plan is the introduction of the outdoor seating area on the south of the cafe with a barbecue station on the west side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the structural changes and the addition of the outdoor area. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with specific details from the diagrams. However, the description of the serving area is slightly confusing; you mention it is 'distributed into separate rooms based on types,' but the plan shows it is now divided into specific stations (hot meals, salad, coffee, takeaway) within the same general footprint. Additionally, ensure you clearly distinguish between what was removed and what was added to improve clarity. Overall, you have covered the requirements well, but more precise spatial descriptions would elevate the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow a thematic progression. You use cohesive devices such as 'Previously,' 'However,' and 'A new addition' to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different aspects of the redesign. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise; for instance, 'the tables and chairs which are unchanged' is a bit clunky. Overall, the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow, demonstrating a good command of organizational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redesign,' 'transformed,' 'constructed,' and 'introduction.' There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'staff dinning rooms' (should be 'dining') and 'replaced into' (should be 'replaced by'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated or precise collocations that would characterize a higher band score. Focusing on accurate spelling and more natural phrasing for describing spatial changes will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are a few minor errors, such as 'The bin... is replaced into' (should be 'replaced with') and the spelling error 'dinning' instead of 'dining.' Additionally, 'on the west side to the tables' is slightly awkward; 'adjacent to' would be more precise. Despite these occasional slips, your control of grammar is good, and your meaning is never obscured by these errors.

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

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