Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-10
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 figures depit the layout plan which redesigned the college's cafe and looks diffrent with more features and facilities.
overall, cafe is is expanded such as adding outdoor seating for eating and barbecue area. you can go for eating out throgh exit at wall where are toiltes. Moreover some locations are redesigned such as staff dining room modifed by patiotion wall to make two room one of which is take away food and other is coffee bar. Service area of cafe similarly redigned for hot meals. In left wall of cafe there is salad bar were added for extra meal option. Aditionaly bin area was inlarged as the cafe become large for more people.
Furthore this expanded and redesigned cafe provide more food option and seating area by providing five dinning tables in outdoor area. However kictcken area for cooking food are keep same and not modified. Similarly in inner hall there are also tables and chairs available which are not redesigned.
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 addition of the outdoor seating, the salad bar, and the reconfiguration of the staff dining area. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that the cafe is 'expanded', you do not effectively contrast the 'before' and 'after' states in a way that highlights the most significant changes. Some details, such as the specific location of the exit, are described in a confusing manner, which hinders the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure you group information logically and provide a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'moreover' and 'additionally'. Referencing is sometimes unclear; for instance, the phrase 'exit at wall where are toiltes' is difficult to follow. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a logical flow, making it hard for the reader to track the changes from the original layout to the new one. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring clear referencing would significantly enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several spelling errors, such as 'depit' (depict), 'diffrent' (different), 'toiltes' (toilets), 'patiotion' (partition), 'inlarged' (enlarged), and 'kictcken' (kitchen). These errors are frequent and occasionally distracting. While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'redesigned', 'facilities', and 'reconfigured', the range is limited. To achieve a higher score, focus on accurate spelling and incorporating more varied, precise terminology related to describing spatial changes and layouts.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include missing articles ('in left wall', 'in inner hall'), incorrect verb forms ('are keep same', 'were added'), and awkward phrasing ('cafe is is expanded'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly regarding the use of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the text from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would be a good starting point for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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