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 plans provided illustrates the differences between before and after the college cafeteria have been reconstructed. we can see that there have been quite major things that have been added and some previous stuff which have been reconsidered aswell.
Many changes such as kitchen now prepares hot meals only. the cafe has been redesigned very thoughtfully such as addition of recycling bins along with salad bar. students that like to sit outside have been provided with outdoor seating too.
We can see that the management has made changes thoughtfully for the students because they have added takeaway food and coffee bar replacing the staff for those who wants to grab food and leave due to lack of time, furthermore they have made an outdoor dining area aswell so that everyone can breath in fresh air and socialise too. moreover there have been some addition to menu items aswell for example, barbecue and salad bars for those who are on their diet.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of the salad bar, outdoor seating, and the coffee bar. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. The description is somewhat informal and relies on subjective commentary (e.g., 'thoughtfully') rather than objective reporting of the visual data. To improve, you should focus on grouping the information logically—perhaps by comparing the layout before and after—and ensure you provide a clear summary of the overall transformation rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'moreover', 'furthermore'). The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the paragraphing could be more effective if you separated the 'before' and 'after' states more distinctly. While the text is generally readable, the logical flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by the informal tone and lack of sophisticated linking phrases. Improving the variety of your cohesive devices will help the response feel more professional and cohesive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and academic tone required for a higher band. You use informal phrases like 'previous stuff' and 'grab food', which are not suitable for an Academic Task 1 report. There is also some repetition of basic vocabulary. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to layout and design, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'converted', or 'installed'. Focusing on formal collocations will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The plans provided illustrates', 'cafeteria have been reconstructed') and punctuation errors, such as missing capital letters at the start of sentences. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors and the limited range of structures prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and sentence construction will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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