Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17
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 plan illustrates a college before it was redesigned and how it looks now. The two structures are present giving us information about the infrastructure of a college cafe.
There were some modifications in the model. For instance, placement of the kitchen, tables and chairs in addition to it toilets were at the same location whereas new areas including hot meals, salad bar recycling bin moreover barbecue area with outdoor seating were developed. However, staff dining room was replaced by take-away food and coffee bar.
If we talk about the diagram before the construction of a cafe, in the north-western corner a kitchen was located with a serving area where foods and drinks were available. In the middle, staff dining rooms were present in the downward direction to it tables and chairs were placed where people sat and relaxed additionally next to it, a bin was positioned below it toilets were situated.
The infrastructure of the cafe today consists of hot meals area at the placement of serving area also beneath to it salad bar has been established as well as lower to it barbecue area has been constructed along with outdoor seating to accommodate customers. On the other hand, take-away food accompanied by coffee bar has been built. Bin has been upgraded to a recycling bin.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully identifies the main changes shown in the two maps, noting that the kitchen, tables and chairs, and toilets remained in the same locations, while new features such as the salad bar, barbecue area, and outdoor seating were introduced. The staff dining room was also replaced by a take-away food counter and coffee bar, and the bin was upgraded to recycling bins. An overview is present near the beginning, and key spatial comparisons are made. However, some descriptions are slightly repetitive or lack fully extended comparisons between the two time periods, placing this response securely in the Band 6 territory.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by an overview paragraph, and then breaking down the details of the cafe before and after the redesign. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'For instance', 'However', and 'On the other hand'. However, some linking phrases feel awkward or mechanical (e.g., 'in the downward direction to it' or 'lower to it'). Paragraphing is generally appropriate, but overall progression within the body paragraphs occasionally feels clunky, matching the expectations for a Band 6 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to describe the visual data, utilizing words like 'modifications', 'infrastructure', and 'accommodate'. However, there are notable limitations and awkward collocations, such as 'placement of the kitchen' and 'at the placement of serving area'. While the student attempts less common vocabulary, inaccuracies in word choice prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate, but phrasing is sometimes unnatural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer attempts some longer, multi-clause sentences, but these frequently suffer from awkward syntax or punctuation errors, such as in the sentence: 'For instance, placement of the kitchen, tables and chairs in addition to it toilets were at the same location whereas new areas including hot meals, salad bar recycling bin moreover barbecue area with outdoor seating were developed.' Errors in preposition use and clause linking are noticeable (e.g., 'beneath to it', 'lower to it'), though they do not completely impede communication. This aligns with Band 5.5 to 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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