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 plans below show a collage 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 collage cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
- The given two plans demonstrate the layout changes in a collage before and after its resigned.
- Overall, it is evident that the area has undergone substantial changes over the period, becoming more develop and modernized, with several new features introduced, some existing facilities introduced, some existing facilities removed or replaced and the overall layout significantly recognized.
- Previously, the map included several amenities, the kitchen was located at the top of the map, in the northwest corner. Food and drink serving area was situated adjacent to the kitchen, however, this area is now used exclusively for serving hot meals. In addition, staff dining room were placed the central position. Remarkably, staff dining rooms are replaced with the area of take away food and coffee bar.
- Moreover, tables and chairs were located in the middle of the map, while the toilets were positioned to the bottom of the bin was situated near the toilets, whereas now the bin is utilized for recycling. The salad bar is placed in west, and the bottom of the map and also, barbecue is located adjacent to the seating area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The candidate has copied the prompt and instructions multiple times at the beginning of the response, which is a waste of time and space, but the actual report successfully addresses the task. The main features of the college cafe before and after the redesign are identified, such as the changes to the kitchen, serving areas, seating, and the addition of a coffee bar and recycling bin. Key comparisons are made between the two layouts. However, some descriptions are slightly confused or imprecise, such as mentioning the 'bottom of the bin was situated near the toilets,' which contains a typo and lacks clarity. Overall, the response covers the requirements adequately, earning a band score of 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response attempts a logical organization, beginning with an overview and moving into specific spatial comparisons. However, the paragraphing is weak, and including the prompt text directly in the body disrupts the flow. Cohesive devices are used, but sometimes awkwardly or repetitively ('Previously, the map included...', 'Moreover, tables and chairs...'). Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in the final paragraph where locations become fragmented and difficult to follow ('the salad bar is placed in west, and the bottom of the map and also, barbecue is located adjacent to the seating area'). These cohesion and paragraphing faults place the response at a band 5.5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The candidate attempts some less common vocabulary ('substantial changes', 'exclusively', 'adjacent'), but these are mixed with noticeable word choice errors and repetitions of the prompt ('collage' instead of 'college', 'resigned' instead of 'redesigned', 'develop' instead of 'developed', 'significantly recognized' instead of 'significantly reorganized'). There are also awkward collocations and phrasing throughout the body paragraphs. While communication is generally maintained, the lexical errors and limited precision prevent the score from rising above a 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures, such as 'staff dining room were placed the central position' (missing preposition and subject-verb agreement error) and 'some existing facilities introduced, some existing facilities removed' (run-on/faulty coordination). Punctuation and phrasing issues frequently occur, particularly in the final paragraph which deteriorates into a run-on sentence. These persistent errors cause some difficulty for the reader, justifying a band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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