Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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 diagrams illustrate the layout of the college cafe before and after the design was completed.

Overall, it is readily apparent that the cafe has undergone significant changes after the completion of its design, with the addition of notable amenities.

As the layout reveals, the area for the kitchen was allocated at the top left, and below it there was a serving area, which has now been named as hot meals. The staff dining rooms were present in the upper center of the layout within the guarded area and have now been replaced with the takeaway and coffee bar. More recycling bins have been added, and toilets have remained at the bottom right as before. The central foyer with tables and chairs is presented as the same.

Since then, the canteen has undergone extensive renovation with the addition of facilities like salad bar in the left corner and a barbecue in the left side of the outdoor seating.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main changes to the college cafe before and after the redesign. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting that the facility underwent significant structural alterations. Key features such as the conversion of the staff dining rooms into a takeaway and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, and the introduction of outdoor seating and a barbecue are correctly reported and compared. However, some areas are slightly under-developed; for instance, the description of the central seating area could have been more fully integrated into the overall comparative narrative. The selection of features covers the most important elements of both floor plans, ensuring the core requirements of the task are met.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear progression from the introduction and overview to the body paragraphs detailing specific layout modifications. Paragraphing is utilised to group related changes, separating the interior spatial updates from the newly introduced outdoor facilities. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, such as "As the layout reveals" and "Since then", though referencing and transitional links can occasionally feel somewhat mechanical or repetitive. While the overall logical flow is maintained throughout the response, more sophisticated transitional phrases would enhance the cohesion and ensure a smoother reading experience between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

An adequate range of vocabulary is deployed for the task, successfully conveying the visual data. The student attempts less common vocabulary items and phrases, such as "undergone significant changes", "extensive renovation", and "notable amenities", demonstrating a satisfactory lexical control. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as stating that the design "was completed" rather than redesigned, and referring to the kitchen area as being "allocated at the top left" rather than situated or located there. These lexical slips do not impede communication, and spelling throughout the response remains accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a satisfactory mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a solid foundation in grammatical control. Examples of complex structures include relative clauses and passive constructions, such as "which has now been named as hot meals" and "have now been replaced with the takeaway and coffee bar." There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly regarding article usage and prepositional patterns, such as "in the left side" instead of on the left side. Nevertheless, these minor errors are sporadic and rarely impede communication, allowing the majority of sentences to be clear and understandable.

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