Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01
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 given diagrams illustrate the college cafe layout between past and now.
Overall, it can be seen that the overview has been changed significantly. There are several places which are reorganized.
Firstly, in the original layout, the kitchen was on the top of the map and there were a serving area to serve all food and drink. After, the redesign it has been replaced by hot meals corner. At the center of the cafe there were staff dining rooms after redesign it has been eliminated and after the design two new sectors has been added: take away food and coffee bar. At the south-east corner toilet has been situated at the same place, it is not replaced anymore.
Moreover, outside of the cafe layout has been changed drastically by adding some new features. After redesign at the south-west corner Barbecue sector has been added. In addition, for seating , a number of chairs and tables has been produced at the out door of the cafe . Bin corner renamed by recycling bins and also the place has been expanded. Salad bar also the new addition after the redesign.
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 response addresses all parts of the task and attempts to provide an overview, noting that the layout has changed significantly. Key features of the college cafe are reported, such as the addition of the outdoor seating, barbecue area, salad bar, and the replacement of the staff dining rooms with a take away food and coffee bar section. However, some parts of the task are developed unevenly or lack clarity, such as the description of the kitchen and the toilet area. While the main features are identified, the overall summary lacks a polished, fully extended comparison throughout the text, placing this response firmly at the target band for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response presents an overall coherent arrangement, dividing the information into an introductory summary of change, a paragraph detailing indoor modifications, and a final paragraph focusing on outdoor additions and peripheral changes. However, cohesion is at times mechanical and faulty due to repetitive transition phrases such as 'After, the redesign' and 'after redesign it has been eliminated and after the design'. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, and the paragraphing, while present, does not fully establish a clear logical progression throughout the text, which reflects characteristics of the current band level.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items related to architectural layouts and amenities, such as 'reorganized', 'eliminated', and 'drastically'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word formation, including phrases like 'college cafe layout between past and now', 'Barbecue sector', and 'at the out door of the cafe'. There are also minor awkward phrasings like 'Bin corner renamed by recycling bins', though these do not completely impede communication. Expanding vocabulary control and improving precision would elevate this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in article usage, plurals, and prepositions, such as 'there were a serving area', 'toilet has been situated', and 'a number of chairs and tables has been produced' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation errors are also present, particularly misplaced commas like 'After, the redesign'. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they occur regularly alongside faulty attempts at complex structures, keeping the grammar score at the specified level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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