Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29
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 maps illustrate a collage cafe before and after its redesign.
Overall, simple cafe evaluated into modern cafe with significant changes. The most significant change in cafe is replacement of staff area into take-away service for customers and addition of outdoor seating.
In original layout, a kitchen was present at the north side. While, outside the kitchen, serving area was located for all food and drinks. Inside cafe, there were toilets in corner with a standarad bin. There were two staff dining rooms just below the serving area. Interior side of cafe renovated with table and chairs.
In today cafe, kitchen and toilets are remained at the same position. Serving area changed into hot meals area. Staff dining rooms transformed into take-away food area and coffe bar. Standard dustbin now replaced with recycling bins that was located at the right side. Further addition of salad bar is happened. In today cafe, outdoor seating is also take place with tables and chairs. There is also a barbecue area outside at the left side of cafe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student attempts to address the task by comparing the two maps of the college cafe. An overview is provided, stating that the cafe was modernised with significant changes, such as the replacement of staff areas and the addition of outdoor seating. Key features are reported, including the retention of the kitchen and toilets, the transformation of staff dining rooms into take-away food and a coffee bar, and the introduction of a salad bar, outdoor seating, and a barbecue area. However, there are minor typos in places, such as 'collage' instead of 'college', and the overview lacks precision in summarising the overarching structural transformation. Nevertheless, all main parts of the visual data are covered adequately, placing the response firmly at Band 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged logically into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, a description of the original layout, and a description of the current layout. Cohesive devices are used to signal spatial relationships, such as 'In original layout', 'While, outside the kitchen', and 'In today cafe'. However, some transitions are rather mechanical or awkward, such as 'In today cafe' repeated multiple times instead of varying time markers. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Referencing is mostly clear, though some phrasing feels slightly disjointed. This level of organisation corresponds to a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, incorporating specific terms from the prompt and diagram such as 'kitchen', 'serving area', 'take-away food', 'coffee bar', 'salad bar', and 'barbecue'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('collage' for college, 'standarad' for standard, 'coffe' for coffee) and awkward lexical choices ('evaluated' instead of 'evolved' or 'transformed', 'is happened' instead of 'took place'). Less common vocabulary is attempted with some inaccuracy, limiting the score to Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though error frequency is noticeable throughout. Examples of grammatical errors include 'evaluated into modern cafe' (incorrect verb choice and missing articles), 'serving area was located for all food and drinks', 'Inside cafe, there were toilets in corner', and 'outdoor seating is also take place'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but misuse of commas and missing prepositions/articles recur. Because errors occasionally cause mild disruption to readability while simple structures remain mostly functional, a score of Band 5.5 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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