Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23
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 maps illustrate alteration that took place in the college cafe and it was redesigned.
Looking from an overall perspective, the area underwent considerable redevelopment in cafe, with several new outdoor seating and barbecue being constructed while staff dining rooms converted into two different points and add two doors.
In the earlier map, kitchen is located at north-west section it contained serving area for food and drink. However, in the present day, this area replaced by hot meals. Additionally, staff dining rooms changed into take away food and coffee bar. Moreover, salad bar added in the main hall which is designated for tables and chairs.
In the north section, barbecue point has been build just by the new door. Cafe improving access to the outdoor seating. Furthermore, bin transformed into recycling bins on the east of the map and opened a another door next to the toilets which bacame accessible the outside area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task well, successfully outlining the main changes between the two plans of the college cafe. The writer provides a clear overall summary, noting major developments such as the conversion of staff dining rooms and the addition of outdoor seating and a barbecue. Key spatial features are identified, including the relocation of the serving counter into a hot meals area and the introduction of a salad bar. However, there are minor inaccuracies in spatial reporting, such as placing the barbecue in the 'north section' rather than the south-west. Despite this minor slip, the response fulfills the requirements of Task Achievement adequately, meeting the minimum word count and presenting relevant comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay has a coherent overall arrangement and is divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing specific spatial changes. Logical connectors and transition words like 'Looking from an overall perspective', 'In the earlier map', and 'However' are used to guide the reader through the comparison. Nevertheless, cohesion is occasionally faulty and mechanical, with some referencing issues and clunky transitions, such as 'Cafe improving access to the outdoor seating'. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion within paragraphs could be smoother and more sophisticated to reach a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to maps and redesigns, such as 'redevelopment', 'alteration', 'converted', and 'relocated' (implicitly). However, there are noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, as well as awkward phrasing, such as 'add two doors' instead of 'the addition of two doors', and 'bacame accessible the outside area'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some inaccuracy, and word forms are sometimes strained (e.g., 'barbecue point has been build'). The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the intended meaning, but errors restrict the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like subordinate clauses and passive voice ('was redesigned', 'has been build'). However, there is a lack of control over grammatical accuracy, with frequent errors including missing articles ('in cafe', 'on east of the map'), incorrect verb tenses or forms ('staff dining rooms converted' instead of 'were converted'), and punctuation errors. While these errors do not severely impede overall communication, they occur regularly enough to prevent the writing from achieving a higher band. Complex sentences often contain faulty phrasing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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