Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-27

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 illustrate how cafe looks before redesign and after redesign.

Overall, the area underwent considerable development, such as addition of barbecue in the left corner of the cafe. Food and drink area was replaced by hot meals. Meanwhile, Central area remained Unchanged ,While several existing facilities were replaced.

Before redesign, the eastern part of the area contained staff dining rooms ,but after redesign this has been converted into two areas first one is coffee bar and another is take away food. In addition, salad bar was constructed to north of barbecue.

Elsewhere ,kitchen was remained in the same location ,while the area of bin was greater after redesign and the name was also changed to Recycling bins. Two new entrance was added first one adjacent to toilets and other next to barbecue. A new outdoor seating was also added some are adjacent to barbecue and some are opposite to toilets. Overall, the area become more accessible and developed after redesign.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student successfully identifies the main changes between the two plans, noting key alterations such as the addition of the barbecue, outdoor seating, and the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a coffee bar and take-away food area. An overview is provided, capturing the overall development of the space. However, some minor details are slightly inaccurate or imprecise—for instance, placing the barbecue in the 'left corner' when it is on the south-west exterior, and stating that the 'area of bin was greater' when the recycling bins occupy a similar position. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are adequately addressed, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is structured into four paragraphs, including a brief introduction and an overall summary. Logical progression is attempted using cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', 'Before redesign', and 'In addition'. However, paragraphing and referencing are sometimes awkward, and repetitive transitions ('Overall') weaken the flow. Cohesive devices are occasionally mechanical, and the logical grouping of details could be tighter. This performance aligns with Band 6.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, using functional terms such as 'redesign', 'converted', 'accessible', and 'facilities'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as 'The map illustrate' (instead of 'The plans illustrate'), 'addition of barbecue' (missing article), and 'area of bin was greater'. Less common vocabulary is attempted but lacks precision. This sits firmly within the Band 6.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('The map illustrate', 'salad bar was constructed'), subject-verb agreement issues ('kitchen was remained'), and punctuation/capitalization slips ('Unchanged ,While', 'Two new entrance'). While these errors do not impede overall communication, they prevent the text from reaching a higher band, making Band 5.5 an appropriate score.

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

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