Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The map illustrates the changes that took place in a college cafe between the past and the present.

Overall, the college cafe has undergone significant changes in its layout and facilities. Several existing areas were replaced or converted, while a number of new facilities, including a hot-meals section, a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar, were introduced.

In the past, the cafe had a kitchen and serving area in the northeast corner, while the toilets were located in the southwest corner. There was a seating area with tables and chairs in the centre of the cafe. The staff dining room was situated on the northern side, whereas bins were located along the western side.

At present, the serving area has been converted into a hot-meals section, while the staff dining room has been replaced by a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar. The original bins have been replaced by recycling bins, and a salad bar has also been added. In addition, a barbecue and an outdoor seating area have been installed on the southern side of the cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student provides a clear overview of the main changes and successfully reports key features of the college cafe before and after the redesign. All major alterations, such as the introduction of the hot-meals section, the coffee bar, the takeaway area, the salad bar, and the outdoor seating with a barbecue, are accurately mentioned. However, there are some minor inaccuracies regarding spatial locations compared to the source data: the kitchen is located in the upper-left (north-west) corner rather than the north-east, and the bins were originally on the eastern side rather than the western side. Despite these minor misreadings of positions, the task is well addressed with a clear selection of features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised into four paragraphs, moving from an introductory statement to a general overview, followed by clear descriptions of the past layout and the present changes. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparison, such as 'In the past', 'At present', and 'In addition'. Paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the essay. Referencing is generally clear, and the progression of information flows smoothly from the general to the specific.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task describing changes, such as 'undergone significant changes', 'converted', 'replaced', and 'introduced'. There are occasional attempts at less common lexical items, but some word choices lack precision or contain minor collocation slips, such as mislocating items (e.g., placing the kitchen in the northeast). Overall, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, representing solid Band 6 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and passive constructions (e.g., 'has undergone significant changes', 'has been converted into', 'were located'). Grammar and punctuation are generally well controlled, and errors are infrequent. Most complex sentences are constructed accurately, ensuring that the meaning remains clear throughout the response. The level of grammatical accuracy comfortably satisfies the criteria for Band 7.

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