Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11
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 given diagrams compares the two designs of a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, cafe transformed the area of staff dining to take away food and coffee bar. Another change was the addition of recycling bins along with the opening of a salad bar in the indoor area.
Furthermore, the cafe before the reconstruction consisted of only indoor sitting, whereas the outdoor sitting was introduced in the new pan. The area covered from tables and chairs reduced due to the addition of recycling bins and a salad bar. However, hot meals were another addition. It replaces the serving area which used to sell food and drinks.
Apart from these, a barbecue store was also installed near the outside sitting area. An entrance was also opened near the toilets and an exit along side the barbecue bar. Toilets and kitchen remained the same over the two plans.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| 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 salad bar, recycling bins, and outdoor seating. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant changes. While the task is addressed, some details are slightly inaccurate or confusingly phrased, such as the claim that the area for tables and chairs reduced due to the addition of a salad bar, which is not clearly supported by the visual evidence. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most dramatic transformations—such as the shift from a purely indoor layout to a more versatile space—rather than just listing individual features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'Apart from these', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the mention of outdoor seating and the reduction of table space is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a distinct theme (e.g., layout changes vs. facility additions) would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes effectively. Words like 'reconstruction', 'transformed', and 'introduced' are used correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'barbecue store' (likely a 'barbecue area' or 'station') and 'new pan' (a typo for 'plan'). The range is sufficient to convey the information, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for architectural or layout changes, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'partitioned'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'The given diagrams compares' (subject-verb agreement) and 'The area covered from tables and chairs' (preposition error). Additionally, 'It replaces the serving area' lacks a clear antecedent. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that pronouns clearly refer back to the intended nouns. Practicing more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses, would also be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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