Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13
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 illustrates the redevelopment of a college cafe, representing how it looked before and how it looks at the present.
Overall, there are various new facilities added such as the salad bar and the outer section with barbecue. There are many things that are replaced, relocated and removed.
Before the cafe was redesigned, there were two doors entrace and exit. At the entrance there were staff dining rooms which was later replaced with take away food and a coffee bar. There were washrooms to freshen up ourselves and have our meals at the left side of the entrance. Next to the take away food there was a serving area which was replaced with hot meals while the kitchen remained same. Furtheremore, wide space of tables and chair were provided where salad bar was installed later. Additionally, outdoor seating area was develpoed with a barbecue making two entrance.
There were many changes done after the renovation by adding salad bar, barbecue and other more providing better facilities than before.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response successfully covers all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of the college cafe before and after its redesign, while making relevant comparisons. In the overview, the student correctly identifies key developments such as the salad bar and the outdoor barbecue section, and notes general structural alterations. Details are provided regarding the relocation of the serving area, the addition of a coffee bar, and changes to entrances and seating arrangements. While some specific descriptions of spatial relationships could be slightly more precise, the overall progression of information effectively captures the essence of both plans. This performance aligns well with the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0, and a score of 6.5 is awarded.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged coherently with a discernible overall structure, moving from an introductory overview to body paragraphs detailing the layout before and after the renovation, and concluding with a brief summary. Paragraphing is utilized, although the division could be refined. Cohesive devices are used throughout, such as 'Overall', 'Before the cafe was redesigned', and 'Additionally'. However, some referencing is slightly awkward or mechanical, such as 'freshen up ourselves and have our meals at the left side of the entrance' and the repetitive use of passive structures without smooth transitions. Overall logical organization is present, supporting a clear progression of ideas. This meets the criteria for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to architectural changes and layout features such as 'redevelopment', 'relocated', 'salad bar', 'serving area', and 'renovation'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though this is occasionally accompanied by awkward word choice or minor collocation issues, such as 'outer section with barbecue' instead of 'outdoor barbecue area' and 'wide space of tables and chair'. Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication. This performance fits comfortably within the Band 6.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and passive voice constructions, such as 'staff dining rooms which was later replaced' and 'outdoor seating area was develpoed with a barbecue making two entrance'. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout, including subject-verb agreement issues ('staff dining rooms which was', 'tables and chair') and spelling slips like 'develpoed' and 'entrace'. While these errors are noticeable and require the reader to occasionally pause, they do not severely impede overall communication. The grammatical control is reflective of Band 5.5 to 6.0, and a score of 6.0 is awarded.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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