Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The map shows the construction plan of a cafe in the college. It shows the changes in the design of the cafe based on how it looked earlier, and at present.
Overall, the design of the cafe has changed drastically, at first there were only a few things that were necessary for the cafe, however, many things have changed now as it is more developed. In the beginning, the cafe design was simple. The cafe had a kitchen and a big hall, which included tables and chairs, a bin, toilets, and a staff dining rooms. The design was minimalist.
Currently, it is redesigned with more advancements. The hall now has a salad bar, the staff dining room is now transformed to a takeaway food and a coffee bar. The bin is now changed into a recycling bin. The most important improvement is the outdoor seating area, which now includes more table and chairs. Furthermore, there is now a barbecue stand outside the cafe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully covers the main features of the two maps, highlighting the key transformations such as the addition of the salad bar, the conversion of staff dining rooms into a takeaway food area and a coffee bar, and the introduction of outdoor seating and a barbecue. An overview is present, noting that the design has changed drastically and become more developed. However, the report is relatively brief and lacks deeper comparisons between the two layouts, stopping just above the minimum word count. While all critical changes are mentioned, a more integrated comparison would push the response into higher bands. Overall, it addresses the task adequately and covers the required features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is structured into three paragraphs, following a logical progression from an introductory statement to an overall summary and then specific details of the current layout. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'In the beginning', and 'Currently', which help guide the reader through the comparison. However, paragraphing could be improved by separating the description of the original layout from the current layout more clearly. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The logical flow is maintained throughout, satisfying the requirements for a coherent, easy-to-read report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a map transformation, including terms like 'minimalist', 'transform', 'advancements', and 'recycling bin'. There are some awkward phrasings or word choices, such as 'construction plan' (instead of floor plan or layout) and 'more advancements'. Some vocabulary is repeated, such as 'changed' and 'cafe'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and although less common lexical items are attempted with some minor inaccuracies, communication is never impeded. The range is sufficient to meet the band criteria for a competent performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'It shows the changes in the design of the cafe based on how it looked earlier, and at present' and 'The most important improvement is the outdoor seating area, which now includes more table and chairs.' There are a few minor grammatical errors, such as 'more table and chairs' (should be 'tables') and a comma splice in the second paragraph ('Overall, the design of the cafe has changed drastically, at first there were only...'). However, the majority of sentences are grammatically sound, and these errors do not impede communication, placing the writing comfortably in the band 6 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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