Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16
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 provided plans illustrate the layout of a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, it is readily apparent that the cafe underwent several significant changes, with some facilities being removed or relocated and new features being added. In addition, the overall layout became more organised and spacious after the redesign.
A closer examination of the plans reveals that the seating area was located in the central part of the cafe before the renovation, while the service counter was positioned towards one side. Over the subsequent changes, the seating arrangement was reorganised and the counter was moved to a different location. Conversely, some of the original facilities were removed to make space for the new layout.
With regard to the remaining data, several new facilities were added to the cafe, including additional seating and service areas. Meanwhile, some existing features remained unchanged, although their surrounding areas were modified. Overall, the figures demonstrate clear differences between the cafe's original and redesigned layouts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student meets the minimum word count and attempts to summarize the plans. However, the response lacks specific detail regarding the actual features shown in the diagrams. Instead of reporting key changes such as the addition of the outdoor seating, barbecue, salad bar, and coffee bar, the writer relies on vague generalizations like 'some facilities being removed or relocated and new features being added.' An effective Task 1 response must selectively report concrete data from the visual. Because the student describes the plans in abstract terms without specifying what has changed or pointing out key locations (e.g., the kitchen, toilets, or outdoor areas), the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is an attempt at progression, moving from general changes to more detailed observations. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'In addition,' 'A closer examination,' and 'Conversely' are used to connect ideas. However, paragraphing and referencing become somewhat repetitive, and the progression within the body paragraphs feels vague because the actual spatial details of the cafe plans are not clearly pinned down or referenced.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for basic communication, featuring phrases like 'readily apparent,' 'significant changes,' and 'reorganised.' However, the range of lexical items is limited, and the student relies heavily on vague expressions ('several new facilities,' 'some existing features') rather than precise vocabulary relevant to map reading (e.g., 'converted,' 'relocated,' 'extended,' 'counter'). There are no major spelling errors, but the lack of specific, topic-specific vocabulary restricts the score for this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The provided plans illustrate the layout...' and 'A closer examination of the plans reveals that the seating area was located...'. Grammatical control is fairly good, with accurate use of past and present tenses where attempted. Punctuation is generally correct. Although the structural range is somewhat standard, the sentences are mostly accurate and communication is not impeded by errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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