Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-24
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)
In this report, there are two different maps where one map shows the old condition of a cafe whereas the second map illustrates the development made in the existing cafe.
Previously, there was a serving area in front of kitchen but later on, the serving area converted into hot meals area. Additionally, there were two staff dining rooms on the right side of the serving area which then converted into take away food and coffee bar. There was no salad bar before but then it was constructed right in front of the recycling bins. before there was a bin on the east side of the cafe which is converted into recycling bins. However, kitchen, toilets, tables and chairs remained at the same position. Moreover, A barbecue stand is built outside the cafe along with outdoor seating.
Overall, the latest plan determines that cafe have made several improvements as compared to the past
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 candidate attempts to cover the main changes shown in the two maps, noting the transformation of the staff dining rooms into a take away food and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, outdoor seating, and a barbecue area. However, the overview is extremely brief and superficial ('Overall, the latest plan determines that cafe have made several improvements'). Key spatial relationships and structural layouts are somewhat vaguely described (e.g., 'right in front of the recycling bins'), and some descriptions lack precision. While the response addresses the prompt and meets the minimum word count, the lack of full development and a more robust overview places this in Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text is generally coherent and follows a logical progression, moving from the central and northern areas to the western, eastern, and finally outdoor sections. Paragraphing is attempted, though the layout is slightly fragmented with a very short concluding paragraph. Cohesive devices are used ('Previously', 'Additionally', 'However', 'Moreover'), but they can feel a bit mechanical or repetitive ('then converted into', 'which then converted into'). Referencing is mostly clear, though paragraph boundaries and transitions could be smoother. This corresponds well to a Band 6.0 descriptor profile.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The candidate uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a map transformation (e.g., 'redesigned', 'serving area', 'salad bar', 'outdoor seating'). However, the lexical range is limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic verbs like 'converted into' and 'constructed'. There are minor collocation and phrasing awkwardnesses (e.g., 'hot meals area', 'cafe have made several improvements'). Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, but the lack of sophisticated or less common lexical items keeps the score at Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using temporal clauses and connectors ('Previously, there was...', 'There was no salad bar before but then it was constructed...'). Grammatical control is moderate; there are several noticeable errors, such as missing articles ('in front of kitchen', 'determines that cafe have made'), and a run-on sentence structure ('before there was a bin on the east side of the cafe which is converted into recycling bins'). Despite these errors, communication is not impeded, fitting the Band 6.0 criteria.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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