Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the change in layout of college cafe .

Overall , the college cafe had undergone a significant amount of redevelopment . The tables and chairs , the toilets and the kitchen remained unchanged . The college cafe had extended with an outdoor seating area with a barbeque at the left of the outdoor area .

Initially , the college cafe had its entrance in the east side with a bin to its left and a toilet at the bottom right corner . The cafe had two staff dining rooms attached to each other straight from the entrance . The Serving area was attached to the kitchen which was located in the top left corner of the cafe .

At present , the staff dining rooms are redesigned into a take away food and a coffee bar . A salad bar has been added in the west corner of the college cafe . Bins are replaced by recycling bins while the serving area has been changed to hot meals section .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign well. You successfully identified the key changes, such as the addition of the outdoor seating area, the conversion of the dining rooms, and the introduction of the salad bar. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while you mention the cafe underwent significant redevelopment, a more comprehensive summary would explicitly highlight the shift from a staff-focused layout to a more customer-oriented service model. Additionally, some details, such as the specific location of the kitchen, are mentioned but could be integrated more smoothly into the comparative narrative to better highlight the spatial transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving from a general overview to specific details of the 'before' and 'after' states. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these sections. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'Initially' and 'At present' are helpful, but the transition between sentences could be more fluid. Some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the description of the staff dining rooms being 'straight from the entrance,' which lacks precision. Improving the variety of linking words would help the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redevelopment,' 'layout,' and 'redesigned' appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'extended with an outdoor seating area' (which should be 'extended to include') and 'straight from the entrance' (which is slightly unnatural). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. Attempting more specific descriptive language regarding the spatial changes would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles and prepositions, such as 'in the east side' (should be 'on the east side') and 'a take away food' (should be 'takeaway food'). Punctuation is generally consistent, though there are some unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of definite/indefinite articles will improve your accuracy.

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

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