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 diagram outlines the plans of college cafe before and after it is was renowaited.
Overall, the centre largest portion is dedicated to tables and chairs along with staff eating room in old plan, whereas in the current plan the middle area have many other sites to visit. In present plan there is also outdoor seating.
Firstly, the redesign cafe had very limited services like the mid part only had toilets present at the south east corner of the area. In front, bin is present. When you enter the cafe infront you will see staff dining rooms. In addition to this the remaining space have tables and chairs. To the north west corner kitchen is present.
On contrary, to this current cafe is modern with salad bar, take away, coffee bar in centre. The kitchen in divided into segment with serving hot meals only. Lastly, in new cafe there also outdoor seating arrangements with barbecue setup.
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, coffee bar, and outdoor seating. However, the description is somewhat fragmented and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the prompt asks for a summary and comparison, the student focuses on listing features rather than highlighting significant changes or spatial shifts effectively. The mention of 'staff eating room' in the old plan is accurate, but the description of the new layout is slightly confusing, particularly regarding the kitchen's segmentation. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly contrasts the 'before' and 'after' states by grouping related features logically rather than just listing them.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'On contrary, to this current cafe'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly when moving between the old and new layouts. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to visualize the spatial changes. To achieve a higher band, use a wider range of linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences and paragraphs are smoother and more natural, rather than relying on simple, repetitive connectors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several spelling errors, such as 'renowaitied' instead of 'renovated'. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'mid part' and 'infront', which limits the sophistication of the report. While the student successfully uses terms like 'outdoor seating' and 'barbecue setup', the overall range is restricted. To improve, focus on using more precise spatial vocabulary (e.g., 'situated in the northern quadrant', 'adjacent to') and ensure correct spelling of key terms related to the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the middle area have many other sites' (subject-verb agreement) and 'The kitchen in divided' (preposition/verb error). There are also issues with article usage and tense consistency, such as 'the redesign cafe' instead of 'the redesigned cafe'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses will significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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