Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 map illustrate how the area has changed after rennovation of college cafe.

Overall, the cafe has extended outdoor facilities whereas inside also has changed lot of things. Over the period staff dining rooms have been replaced with parcel point and coffee shop.

In past, before redesign tables and chairs are arranged in middle of the cafe. whereas opposite to sitting area staff dining rooms, which students can have there lunch. At corner of the cafe restrooms are available opposite to that a recycle bin. Now on the left side corner kitchen having serving area including all food and beverages.

After redevelopment, while we are entering the cafe besides door a recycling bins are there which has make bigger than past. In middle tables and chairs and at corner toilets remains unchanged. where staff dining hall has converted to take away food with also coffee bar, as salad bar has included on left side. The kitchen has unchanged however serving area converted to hot meals, finally barbecue with outdoor seating has arranged for eating food in open area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main changes and provide a clear overview: the café gains outdoor facilities, while the former staff dining rooms become takeaway and coffee areas. You also correctly note that the kitchen, central seating and toilets remain, and that the serving counter now offers hot meals. This gives the report a solid account of both plans. Some details, however, are unclear or inaccurate: the recycling bins are described as having become bigger, which is not shown, and the original bin is placed opposite the toilets rather than along the eastern wall. The new barbecue and outdoor tables are mentioned but not described precisely. More exact comparisons of locations and a fuller account of the new facilities would make the coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the earlier layout and then the redesigned café. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to track, particularly in the final paragraph, where entrance, bins, seating, toilets, counters and outdoor facilities are joined in a long sequence. Linking words such as “whereas,” “while” and “finally” are used, but some are awkward or do not clearly express the relationship between details. The reference to “opposite to that” is also unclear. Grouping changes by area—for example, north and west interior, then east and south—would create a clearer progression and reduce the list-like effect.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a plan, including “redesign,” “outdoor facilities,” “converted” and “unchanged,” and the reader can generally identify the features being compared. However, several choices are inaccurate or imprecise for this task: “parcel point” does not match the labelled takeaway-food area, “restrooms” is less consistent with the plan’s label “toilets,” and “recycle bin” does not accurately describe the new recycling bins. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “rennovation,” “cafe” and “barbecue” being used in an awkward phrase. Aim for precise labels from the plan and natural collocations such as “was replaced by” or “was converted into.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including contrasts with “whereas” and “while,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence structure and basic grammar are frequent enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “The map illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “the cafe has extended outdoor facilities” has an unclear subject and construction. Several clauses are incomplete or incorrectly joined, as in “where staff dining hall has converted to take away food,” and “the kitchen having serving area” lacks a finite verb. Articles, plurals and punctuation also need attention. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense consistently.

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