Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19
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 compares the layout of a college cafe before and after the development. Overall, there has been several changes, the most noticable is being introduction of outdoor seating, installation of bars, providing facilites for parcel food.
Before the development, the cafe provides the table and chairs in the center of the cafe and also separate dining rooms for staff members. However, After the development the dining rooms are replaced by coffee bar and providing facility for the people to take away food besides the coffee bar. At the left corner of the cafe where there were empty space are now occupied by salad bar. Previously, In the kitchen area they serve all food and drink but currently it converted into hot meals.
Turning to the present cafe, The barbeque installation took place besides the outdoor seating area. There are two enterence for outdoor seating, one is next to the toilet and another is near to the barbeque stall. In addtion, the bins are converted into recycle bins, wehereas toilets, central area for table and chairs, kitchens remained unchanged after the development.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main changes shown in the plans, such as the introduction of outdoor seating, the salad bar, and the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a coffee bar and take-away food area. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and omissions in reporting details, and the overview lacks a fully developed summary of the overarching spatial transformation. The writer correctly notes that the kitchen, toilets, and central seating area remained, but some features like the barbecue and recycling bins are introduced slightly abruptly. Overall, all parts of the task are addressed, earning a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing the changes. However, logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions (e.g., 'Turning to the present cafe'). Referencing and cohesive devices are at times imprecise or repetitive. Paragraphing is present and generally appropriate, but the internal flow of ideas lacks the sophistication and seamless progression required for higher bands. This places the response comfortably in Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'redesigned', 'installation', and 'recycling bins'. However, there are numerous lexical and collocational errors throughout the response, such as 'parcel food' instead of 'take-away food', 'noticable is being introduction', and 'wehereas'. Word choice is frequently simplistic or unnatural. Because these errors occur regularly but do not completely impede overall communication, the lexical resource is characteristic of Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('there has been several changes', 'the cafe provides'), missing articles ('at left corner', 'where there were empty space'), and tense inconsistencies ('they serve all food and drink but currently it converted'). Punctuation errors also occur, such as comma splices. These frequent errors cause occasional difficulty for the reader, aligning the grammar score with Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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