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 map diagram display what new changes is done in before and todays college cafe.

Overall, the area of the cafe is same as previous but some more blocks are build. And today cafe has outdoor seating also. It shows more organize and well develop.

In detail, before the cafe was kitchen on the left side of the top which is same as today's cafe. In the bottom serving area was present but it renovate to hot meals area. Before on the left side there was no other blocks , while now it has salad bar and barbeque area. In the center tables and chairs look same as before but at the top before cafe was staff dining rooms which is now converted into two different blocks one is take away food and other is coffee bar. On the right side before bin was there while now it replace with recycling bins . Toilets area is show no change. In the outdoor, now there are numerous tables and chair are well organize and make a seating area , but before the cafe was not this facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of new facilities like the salad bar and outdoor seating. However, the report lacks a clear, professional overview of the most significant changes. While you identify that the cafe has been 'organized' and 'developed,' the description of the changes is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in comparing the 'before' and 'after' states. To improve, ensure you group features logically (e.g., internal changes vs. external additions) rather than listing them sequentially, which makes the analysis feel slightly mechanical. The summary of the layout changes is accurate, but more focus on the spatial transformation would enhance the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the description. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally repetitive. Phrases like 'before the cafe was' and 'now it has' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit mechanical. There is a need for more varied linking words to connect ideas within and between sentences. While the progression of information is generally clear, the transition between the internal layout and the outdoor area could be smoother. Improving the variety of transition signals would elevate the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on simple verbs like 'build,' 'look,' and 'show,' and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'the map diagram display' (should be 'displays') and 'well develop' (should be 'well-developed'). There is also a lack of specific terminology related to architectural changes or spatial descriptions. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to change, such as 'transformed,' 'converted,' 'replaced,' or 'extended,' and ensure correct word forms are used consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('new changes is done'), tense usage ('before the cafe was kitchen'), and missing articles or incorrect word forms ('the area of the cafe is same'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of past and present tenses will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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