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 illustrates information about a college canteen after reconstruction .
Overall, the whole canteen is divided into different sections and each used to serve different items as compare to fiirst canteen where it only have one station where all type of meals have been served. The bins are changed into recycling bins and outdoor seatings are available in new cafe.
Cafe before being redesign have kitchen area on the backside. The serving area for all kind of food and drinks was in front of kitchen. Tables and chairs for students was in the center of canteen while staff have two rooms allocated for dining near serving area.Toilets were located in south right corner of cafe.
Cafe after redesign hav same areas allocated for kitchen , toilets, and table and chairs .Whereas , significant change is noticed in serving area where only hot meals are now served else for salad barbecue different stations are used in the west and south corners of canteen. Staff dining room replaced with take away and coffee bars. The addition of outdoor seating is included after redesign. Bin is upgraded to recylcing bin for
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the two plans, including the addition of new stations and the reconfiguration of the seating and serving areas. However, the summary is incomplete as the final sentence is cut off mid-thought ('Bin is upgraded to recylcing bin for'). Furthermore, the overview is somewhat repetitive, and the comparison between the two plans could be more analytical. While the key changes are identified, the description lacks the precision required for a higher band, particularly in how the spatial layout is described. To improve, ensure all sentences are completed and focus on grouping information more logically to highlight the most significant transformations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the awkward phrasing 'as compare to fiirst canteen' and the abrupt transition 'Whereas , significant change'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. The paragraphing is logical, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs more variety and better control to ensure a smoother progression of ideas. The incomplete final sentence also negatively impacts the overall coherence of the conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are frequent errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'recylcing', 'fiirst', and 'hav'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors like 'different sections' and 'different items'. There is an attempt to use specific terminology related to the map, but the lack of precision and the recurring spelling mistakes hinder the overall quality. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more varied and precise vocabulary to describe spatial changes and ensure accurate spelling of common terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'canteen... used to serve', 'Cafe before being redesign have'), missing articles (e.g., 'in front of kitchen'), and punctuation issues, particularly with spacing around commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be distracting. A greater focus on basic grammatical rules, such as verb tense consistency and article usage, is necessary to improve the clarity and professional tone of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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