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 diagrams depicts the changes in the structure of a college cafe before and after it was renovated.
No structural difference can be seen in the old styled cafe and the newer version. The old cafe included a kitchen, serving area for refreshments, dinning rooms for staff to enjoy their meals, a bin to dispose the garbage and lastly, toilets.
The newer version of the cafe included some new additions. Hot meals were placed near kitchen, from where they were eventually served, The old staff dining rooms were converted into two sections , one for a coffee bar and one for take away orders. Recycling bins were installed instead of bins and a new salad bar was introduced in the main sitting area of the cafe.
The new barbecue spot was introduced on the southern side of the cafe, which also had outdoor sitting space so that people can enjoy their food while spending a quality time in the nature and lastly, the location for the toilet remained the same.
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 response covers the main features of the two diagrams, noting key changes such as the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a coffee bar and takeaway section, the addition of a salad bar, outdoor seating, and a barbecue area. However, there are some inaccuracies in the interpretation of the layout, such as the statement that 'Hot meals were placed near kitchen', whereas the kitchen itself remained in the same location and the counter was relabelled. Furthermore, the opening sentence contains a slight error ('The diagrams depicts'), though the overall overview is generally acceptable. To achieve a higher band, the student should ensure more precise reporting of spatial changes and avoid minor misinterpretations of the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, starting with an introductory overview followed by body paragraphs detailing the unchanged features and the various modifications made to the cafe. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to guide the reader through the comparison (e.g., 'The newer version of the cafe', 'The new barbecue spot'). However, referencing and transitions could be smoother; for instance, the transition between paragraphs feels slightly abrupt at times. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the redesign, contributing to an overall coherent structure.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a map or plan (e.g., 'redesigned', 'renovated', 'structural difference', 'convert'). There are some minor lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'old styled cafe' instead of 'former layout' or 'previous design', and 'spending a quality time in the nature' rather than 'enjoying the natural surroundings'. Less common lexical items are attempted with varying degrees of success. Spelling is generally accurate, but vocabulary choices could be more precise and formal to elevate the tone of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'so that people can enjoy their food while spending a quality time'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward constructions, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The diagrams depicts') and missing articles ('in the nature', 'location for the toilet'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though comma splices or run-on tendencies appear in complex sentences. These errors do not impede overall communication, but they prevent the writing from achieving a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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