Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-28

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 two maps illustrates prior and present development of college canteen layout.

Overall, plan is showing considerabe redevelopments because they have built the outdoor seating area and barbecue shop while kitchen, toilets, tables and chairs area, and entrance is exactly at the same place. they have also added two more entrances in newly devel

Before redesigning, serving area was built to the north and behind it was kitchen. There were two staff dining rooms adjacent to each other and in front of these both rooms were widespread tables and chairs area. On the south east direction toilet was built and beside the entrance door there were bin area.

After redesigning, they replaced the food and drink area with hot meals but kitchen is still at the same place. Moreover, staff dining rooms is now have been converted to takeayway food and coffee bar rooms but they are still close to each other. In the front of the hot meals area they have made a slad bar corner and in front of it is tables and chiars area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The candidate has addressed the main features of the task, providing an overview and comparing the layout of the college cafe before and after the redesign. Key changes such as the addition of the outdoor seating, barbecue area, salad bar, and the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a coffee bar and take-away food section are correctly identified. However, the response cuts off mid-sentence at the end of the first paragraph ('devel'), and some details are slightly inaccurate or under-developed (e.g., referring to the barbecue area as a 'barbecue shop'). Despite these minor omissions and the truncated sentence, the overall progression of the redesign is reasonably well covered, earning a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an introductory overview to descriptions of the past layout and then the current layout. Cohesive devices are used to signal time transitions, such as 'Before redesigning' and 'After redesigning'. However, referencing is occasionally mechanical, and the abrupt ending of the introductory paragraph disrupts the flow. Paragraphing is generally appropriate, and the overall arrangement remains coherent, making the response fit comfortably into Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with appropriate spatial and architectural terms like 'layout', 'adjacent', and 'redevelopments'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('considerabe', 'takeayway', 'slad', 'chiars') and inaccurate word choices ('barbecue shop'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, though it is generally sufficient to convey the intended meaning, placing it at a Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The candidate attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms (e.g., 'Before redesigning, serving area was built...'). There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('serving area', 'kitchen', 'toilet'), incorrect subject-verb agreement ('staff dining rooms is now have been converted'), and an incomplete sentence at the end of the first paragraph. While these errors do not completely obscure communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the essay from reaching Band 6.0, thus earning a Band 5.5.

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