Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

THE PLANS ILLUSTRATE THE STRUCTURE OF A COLLEGE CAFE THAT HOW IT LOOKED BEFORE RENOVATION AND HOW IT LOOKS NOW.

OVERALL, THE COLLEGE CAFE HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL CHANGES, SOME NEW FACILITIES WERE ADDED SUCH AS COFFEY BAR, HOT MEALS SECTION, BARBECUE AND OUTDOOR SEATING, WHILE SOME EXISTING FACILITIES REMAINED SAME LIKE TOILETS AND TABLE AND CHAIRS.

TO BEGIN WITH, KITCHEN AND SERVING AREA WERE LOCATED IN NORTH-WEST CORNER BEFORE RENOVATION. AFTER RENOVATION, SERVING AREA CONVERTED INTO HOT MEALS SECTION. FURTHERMORE, STAFF DINING ROOMS WERE CONVERTED INTO TWO SECTIONS: THE FIRST IS FOOD COLLECTION AND THE SECOND IS COFFEE BAR. MOREOVER, SALADBAR WAS ALSO ADDED ON WEST CORNER.THEY ADDED BARBECUE AND OUTDOOR SEATING FACILITIES OUTSIDE A CAFE. BIN WAS UPGRADED INTO RECYCLING BINS. HOWEVER, TABLES AND CHAIRS AND TOILETS FACILITIES WERE REMAINED AT SAME LOCATION.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by identifying the main features and changes in the college cafe before and after the redesign, such as the addition of the outdoor seating, barbecue, and coffee bar. However, some areas are under-developed or lack full clarity, for example by omitting exact locations or misrepresenting minor details. Furthermore, the length requirement is not met, as the response contains only 134 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. To reach a higher band, the response should be expanded to ensure all features are fully described and supported with clear comparative data, while meeting the word count requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear division into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the specific alterations. Logical sequencing is present, though cohesion can sometimes feel mechanical or repetitive due to the heavy reliance on simple transitional phrases like 'TO BEGIN WITH' and 'AFTER RENOVATION'. Referencing is generally adequate, but paragraphing could be structured more cleanly. To improve, you should employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices and ensure smoother transitions between sentences to guide the reader effortlessly through the spatial comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey basic changes such as the transformation of the serving area into a hot meals section and the addition of a salad bar. You attempt some less common vocabulary items like 'REDEVELOPMENT' or specific facility names, but this is accompanied by some word-choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as writing 'COFFEY BAR' instead of 'coffee bar' and omitting necessary articles. To achieve a higher band, you need to use a wider range of precise lexical items with correct collocations and accurate spelling throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, such as clauses detailing the past and present layouts. However, there are noticeable errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly missing articles ('a cafe', 'on west corner') and awkward phrasing in relative clauses, such as 'that how it looked before renovation'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they persist throughout the text. To improve your grammar score, you should focus on mastering article usage, prepositions of place, and accurate clause structures in complex sentences.

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

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