Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given plans illustrate the changes made to a college cafe following its redesign, comparing its previous layout with current arrangements.

Overall, the cafe went through significant changes, with several new facilities and some areas are relocated or repurposed. The most notable new amenities are outdoor seating area, salad bar, recycling bins, coffee bar and take away food setup.

Previously, the kitchen was present at upper-left corner with a food and drinks serving area in its front. A staff dining area was present in the center. The main seating area, containing tables and chairs, occupied most of the remaining space. Toilets are present in the bottom-right corner, with bins in front of it.

Following the redesign, the kitchen remains in the upper-left corner, although the serving area is replaced by the hot meals counter. The former staff dining rooms have been removed and replaced by a takeaway food counter and a coffee bar. A salad bar is added at the left wall of cafe. Toilets are at the same place and the bins in its front are replaced by recycling bins. Finally, the cafe provides with new outdoor seating along the lower premises, with new bathrooms.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the cafe redesign. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted the key changes, such as the addition of the salad bar, coffee bar, and outdoor seating. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is logical and covers all significant spatial alterations. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently use the correct tense; for example, you used 'are' instead of 'were' when describing the previous layout, which slightly obscures the timeline. Overall, the information is well-selected and effectively reported.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the layout changes. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Previously' and 'Following the redesign', which help guide the reader. However, the use of cohesive devices is occasionally a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'its' or 'the former') is always precise to avoid any ambiguity regarding which area of the cafe is being discussed.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'repurposed', 'amenities', and 'premises' appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'provides with new outdoor seating', where the preposition 'with' is unnecessary. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, precise collocations that would characterize a higher band. Focusing on more varied descriptive verbs and nouns related to architectural changes would enhance your performance in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, particularly regarding verb tense consistency. For instance, you wrote 'Toilets are present' and 'bins in its front are replaced', which should be in the past tense to reflect the 'before' state or the process of change. Additionally, there are minor errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'at the left wall of cafe' (should be 'on the left wall of the cafe'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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