Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30
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 plan demonstrate how transformation of college cafe is carried out by showing before and after redsidining.
overall, there is a huge tansformation in which certain advance options are added to enhance its location like an outdoor seating facility is included along with a barbeue area.
The rooms which were being used for staff's dinning are being replaced by takeaway food and coffee bar facilities. A salad bar is added on left side of the cfae for the people who want to add healthy food options in their meals. Moreover, there is an outdoor area facilitated with barbecue option. Addionally serving area containing all kinds of foods and drinks is replaced by hot meals in the kitchen. On the ither hand, bins in the cafe are replced into more advanced recycling bins.
overall the cafe have become more advanced while providing entertainment options for the visitiors and also facilitating them in a better way.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student successfully identifies the main features and changes shown in the two plans, noting the replacement of the staff dining rooms with a takeaway and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar and outdoor seating, and the relocation of recycling bins. An overview is attempted at the beginning and end of the response. However, some details are slightly inaccurate or vague, such as the statement that the serving area is replaced by hot meals 'in the kitchen', whereas the hot meals counter is situated where the serving area previously was. Furthermore, the description could be extended with more specific spatial comparisons. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are addressed, earning a solid Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged logically with a clear introduction and conclusion. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped; the essay consists of only two main paragraphs where sentences are grouped rather loosely. Cohesive devices are used, but some transitions feel mechanical or repetitive, such as 'overall', which is used twice ('overall, there is a huge...' and 'overall the cafe have become...'). Reference pronouns and substitution are occasionally imprecise, which affects the overall flow. Progression is somewhat repetitive at times rather than steadily building, placing the response firmly at Band 5.5.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student attempts a range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, including terms like 'transformation', 'facility', 'redesigned', and 'recycling bins'. However, there are numerous spelling and word-form errors throughout the text, such as 'redsidining' instead of redesigning, 'tansformation' instead of transformation, 'barbeue' instead of barbecue, 'cfae' instead of café, 'Addionally' instead of additionally, and 'ither' instead of other. These lexical errors and typos detract from the quality of the response, though the meaning remains mostly clear, matching the Band 5.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('for the people who want to...') and passive voice ('are being replaced'). However, grammatical accuracy is weak due to frequent errors, including tense and voice inconsistencies ('The rooms which were being used for staff's dinning are being replaced' vs 'A salad bar is added'), article misuse ('on left side'), and subject-verb agreement issues ('the cafe have become'). Punctuation and capitalization are also inconsistent, particularly with sentence beginnings. These errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a Band 5.0 performance.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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