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 construction diagram of a college cafe represents the the design before and after renovation.
Overall, it is clear that the kitchen area remained at same place; in contrast, outdoor seating was also included in the new design.
The two staff dining rooms near serving area were converted to take away and coffee bar; Additionally, The serving area containing all food and drink was transformed into Hot meals. Stand bar was also included in the new plan on the most left of inside sitting area with table and chairs.
The toilets remained at right side close to second entrance of the cafe at front of toilet gate there was a trash bin whose area was increased. Close to the new recycling bin area there are two entrance and exit gates which were present in the previous plan as well. Outside seating was a new addition to the plan with four tables and 26 seats. Moreover, barbecue area was created close to first entrance.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the kitchen, serving area, and new additions like the outdoor seating and barbecue area. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant changes. While the key areas are identified, the report could be improved by grouping the information more logically—for example, contrasting the internal structural changes with the external additions. The mention of the 'trash bin' is a minor detail that detracts from the focus on major structural shifts, which are more relevant to the task. Overall, the response addresses the prompt but lacks the synthesis required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is present, such as 'in contrast' and 'moreover', but some transitions feel forced or repetitive. The paragraphing is functional, yet the internal structure of the second paragraph is somewhat cluttered, jumping between the serving area, the toilets, and the outdoor seating without a clear thematic progression. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of smooth logical flow between the various areas of the cafe limits the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes using terms like 'renovation', 'converted', and 'transformed'. However, there is a lack of variety and precision. Phrases like 'most left of inside sitting area' are awkward and unnatural. The student relies on basic descriptors and occasionally struggles with collocations, such as 'toilet gate' or 'stand bar'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise spatial vocabulary and descriptive adjectives to convey the changes more fluently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('at same place', 'on the most left'), incorrect prepositions, and issues with capitalization ('Additionally, The'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the content, they are frequent enough to indicate a lack of control over complex structures. The punctuation is generally functional, but the inconsistent use of capitalization and minor syntax errors suggests that the student needs to focus on proofreading and refining basic grammatical accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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