Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09
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 map illustrates the information about cafe before and after re-making appearance.
Overall, most prominent redevelopments are things we can see , its a outdoor seating, Barbecue, Salad bar, Take away food, coffee bar and hot meals.
On the above side, Kitchen reman same but serving area for all food and drinks converted Hot meals, in the internal building, the main changing is Staff dinning rooms into Take away food and Coffee bar. Tables and Chairs area remain same in the middle of the building, and Toilets also at the same place , corner of the main building.
Outdoor seating are constructed out side of the building, 26 seating developed with 4 seating and 6 seating tables. Two new doors developed, one near to the Toilets and other with Barbecue. The most crucial thing, Bin converted into Recycling Bins at the same placed without changing location. Doors near to the Kitchen and Recycling remain same.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| 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 new outdoor seating and the changes to the internal layout. However, the summary is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, professional overview. While you identified the key changes, the description of the 'before' and 'after' states is occasionally confusing, particularly when listing features like 'Barbecue' and 'Salad bar' without clearly contrasting their placement or existence in the original plan. To improve, ensure you group information logically (e.g., internal changes vs. external additions) and provide a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often mechanical and sometimes lacks logical progression. For example, the transition between discussing the kitchen and the outdoor seating is abrupt. While you use some cohesive devices, they are often repetitive or used incorrectly, such as 'On the above side' or 'The most crucial thing'. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 're-making appearance' and 'main changing', which are not natural collocations. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'reman' (remain) and 'dinning' (dining). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific vocabulary related to maps and diagrams, such as 'renovated', 'relocated', 'extended', or 'transformed'. Focusing on accurate terminology for spatial descriptions will help you convey information more effectively.
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 occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in the corner', 'the main building'), incorrect verb forms ('reman' instead of 'remained'), and awkward phrasing ('Outdoor seating are constructed'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Practicing the construction of complex sentences will help you demonstrate a wider range of grammatical control, which is essential for higher band scores.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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