Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-02

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 chart shows two pictures where a college cafe was redesigned.

It is evident that, after redesigned the old cafe there is several facilities are added to the college cafe.

Turning to the details, In the Cafe before there was good facilities too but, after renovation they changed it a lot but there is some things are still as they use to look before, The Kitchen area is still same they made no changes in it, Toilet is at same place and the Area of setting is still as it was.

Turing to the remaining details, After redesigned Cafe they made some very important changes which made its look beautiful and captivating.

Serving area converted in Hot meals where staff dining rooms redesigned in Take way food and Coffee bar. A new area also made which is outdoor seating and in left they made a Barbecue which gives it a amazing look. The Bin area is converted into a Recycling bins which is bigger now and it will help the cafe to manage there waste.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main features of the college cafe before and after its redesign, satisfying the requirements for this band. An overview is attempted at the beginning, noting that several facilities were added. Key spatial transformations are reported, such as the conversion of staff dining rooms into take-away food and a coffee bar, and the addition of outdoor seating and a barbecue area. However, some parts are underdeveloped or lack precise detail, such as vague phrasing like 'there is some things are still as they use to look before' and loose descriptions of locations. To reach a higher level, the response would need to present a fully developed overview and extend the comparisons between the two layouts with greater precision and clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement, with a clear attempt to structure the comparison between the past and present layouts using transitional markers such as 'Turning to the details' and 'Turing to the remaining details'. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty and mechanical, with repetitive introductory phrases and weak referencing. Paragraphing is rudimentary, and the progression of ideas lacks smooth connectivity, resulting in a somewhat disjointed flow. For instance, sentences are often bolted together rather than integrated logically. To improve coherence and progress to the next level, the writer needs to manage cohesive devices more flexibly, avoid repetitive transitional formulas, and ensure that referencing is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating descriptive terms related to the visual data, such as 'renovation', 'recycled bins', 'coffee bar', and 'outdoor seating'. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word form, such as 'Setting' instead of 'seating', 'Take way food' instead of 'take-away food', and incorrect verb forms like 'after redesigned'. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they reflect a restricted control over less common lexical items. To achieve a higher band score, the writer must expand their vocabulary range, demonstrate more precise word choices, and eliminate spelling and morphological errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on a mix of simple and rather repetitive sentence forms, attempting complex structures that often contain structural errors, such as 'after redesigned the old cafe there is several facilities are added'. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'there is some things are') and prepositional patterns. Punctuation is also problematic, with comma splices and run-on sentences impairing readability, as seen in 'The Kitchen area is still same they made no changes in it'. While some sentences are clear, the accumulation of grammatical errors places the writing firmly in this band. To reach a higher level, the student must produce a greater proportion of error-free sentences, improve control over tense consistency, and use complex structures with greater accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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