Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18

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 map diagram illustrates the layout of the college cafe before and after it was redesigned.

Overall, the entrance and kitchen have remained unchanged, and the bins have been modernised into recycling bins. More food stations have been introduced, and an area has been allocated for outdoor seating.

Before the redesign, the entrance was in the upper northern corner, and the toilets were in the lower southern corner. The bin is between the entrance and toilets and along the right wall. The rectangular space has two staff dining rooms, and the remaining space is a sitting area with tables and chairs. On the upper left side, the small rectangular space is used for the kitchen and serving area.

After redesigning the cafe, the staff dining rooms are replaced by a facility for takeaway food and a coffee bar, and the serving area is converted into a hot meal area. The entrance is at the upper right corner, and toilets in lower right corner. In between, recycling bins are installed. The sitting area also includes a salad bar along the left wall. The outdoor space is also used for for outer seating arrangement with a barbecue facility along the left wall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the main changes and making relevant comparisons between the two plans. The overview paragraph successfully highlights the main trends, such as the kitchen remaining unchanged, the addition of recycling bins, new food stations, and outdoor seating. Specific details are generally accurate, noting the replacement of staff dining rooms with a takeaway food counter and coffee bar, and the introduction of a salad bar and barbecue facility. The response meets the word count requirement of 150 words and effectively addresses the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction and a strong overview paragraph, moves on to describe the original layout, and concludes with the changes in the redesigned cafe. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different sections of the plans. Cohesive devices and reference words are employed adequately to guide the reader through the spatial descriptions, such as 'Before the redesign', 'After redesigning the cafe', and 'In between', although some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a map and architectural changes, using terms such as 'layout', 'modernised', 'allocated', and 'facility'. There are occasional slight inaccuracies in word choice or phrasing, such as 'in the upper northern corner' and 'outer seating arrangement' instead of 'outdoor seating'. However, the vocabulary is precise enough to communicate the features of the cafe clearly without impeding the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating good control over basic grammar. Structures such as 'Before the redesign, the entrance was in... and the toilets were in...' are handled accurately. There are a few minor grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'used for for outer seating arrangement' and 'toilets in lower right corner' (missing an article), but these errors do not impede communication and the majority of sentences are clear.

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

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