Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The pair of maps illustrates the changes that took place in a cafe before redesigning compared it with current map of the cafe.

Overall, the area of cafe is extended and greater number of food options are available in distinct areas such as hot meals, coffee bar and barbecue with outdoor seatings. However, kitchen area, toilets, tables and chairs remain unchanged.

Starting the major changes, which took place in the northern parts of the cafe. Specifically, serving area, which served all type of foods and drinks was replaced by hot meals section. Similarly, two Staff dining rooms at the northern middle part of cafe was pulled down, and take away food and coffee bar section is implemented in place of it. And the area of bin is expanded at the same place.

Furthermore, salad bar was installed at western part of the cafe. Additionally, outdoor seating arrangements was applied with barbecue and greater number of chairs. One can access outdoor seating from two doors, one is located beside barbecue and another is situated near toilets.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You give a clear overview of the main transformation: the café gains more food-service options and outdoor seating, while the kitchen, toilets and central tables-and-chairs area remain. You also identify several accurate changes, including the replacement of the serving counter with hot meals, the former staff rooms becoming takeaway and coffee areas, and the addition of a salad bar. This covers the task well and selects relevant features. However, some details are inaccurate or too general: the bin is replaced by recycling bins, not expanded, and the outdoor area has four tables rather than simply a greater number of chairs. The access description is also incorrect: both new doors are on the southern wall, not one beside the barbecue. More precise reporting of these details would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. The progression from the northern area to the western and outdoor areas is generally easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Similarly,” and “Furthermore” help guide the reader. This is a coherent arrangement, though some connections feel mechanical or unclear. For example, “Starting the major changes” is an awkward transition, while “And the area of bin is expanded at the same place” does not clearly connect to the preceding changes. The final paragraph also combines the salad bar, outdoor seating and access details without a strong sequence. Use more natural transitions and group features by location or by indoor/outdoor changes to make cohesion more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “replaced,” “installed,” “northern parts,” and “outdoor seating,” so the main changes are usually understandable. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “distinct areas” and “arrangements.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “before redesigning compared it with current map,” “pulled down” for rooms, and “area of bin is expanded” do not express the intended map changes precisely. “Outdoor seatings” is also not the natural form; “outdoor seating” is uncountable in this context. Aim for accurate map vocabulary such as “converted into,” “replaced by,” and “added,” and check collocations and word forms so that your adequate range is used more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning “which” and “where,” and the overall meaning can generally be followed. However, grammatical control is uneven, with errors in sentence formation, agreement, articles and verb forms. For example, “The pair of maps illustrates the changes … compared it with current map” has a faulty comparison structure; “two Staff dining rooms … was pulled down” has subject–verb disagreement; and “outdoor seating arrangements was applied” also has incorrect agreement and passive construction. The fragment-like opening “Starting the major changes” and the sentence beginning “And” further weaken control. Practise building complete sentences with accurate subjects and verbs, and check articles and plural agreement. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve clarity.

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

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