Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 plans illustrate a design of coillage cafe that was made before and how it looks currently.

Overall,we can see there are various new places added in the current cafe which was not in the before design.One of the big difference is they added a big portion of area in the outside for seating also they added (take away food,coffee bar,stand bar,recycle bin and barbecue).

In the top corner of the redesign map we can see there was serving area (all food and drink) in the kitchen which replaced by a hot meal area. The most focused area which takes most of the place is table and chairs which stayes the same but in that area some other new places added such as in the right there is a stand bar,on the top of middle where it was meant to be a staff dining area make into take away food and coffee bar. on the left bin area replaced by recycle bin area.

on the outside of the cafe there is significant changes that is showing is a new two thing , one is the barbecue area and they added new seating area is the outside which coverd a large area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main change clearly: the café gains outdoor seating and a barbecue, while the former staff dining rooms become takeaway and coffee facilities. You also note that the central tables and chairs and the toilets remain, and that the bin is replaced by recycling bins. These are relevant comparisons and support a generally clear overview. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the “stand bar” is not shown; the new feature on the western wall is a salad bar. The hot-meals counter replaces the former serving area, rather than being “in the kitchen,” and the description of the outside seating as covering a large area is not precise. Covering the changes more accurately and explaining the layout more fully would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing internal and external changes. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison, and phrases such as “Overall” and “on the outside of the cafe” signal shifts in focus. However, progression within the paragraphs is uneven. The second body paragraph moves from the kitchen to the central seating, then to the right and top, making the spatial description difficult to track. Some linking is also mechanical or unclear, particularly “one is the barbecue area and they added new seating area.” Organise details in a consistent route around the plan and use clearer references to connect each change to its former position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing plans, including “replaced,” “area,” “seating,” and “redesign,” so the main changes can usually be understood. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or imprecise for this task. “Stand bar” does not match the labelled “salad bar,” while “big portion of area” and “big difference” are informal and vague. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “coillage,” “stayes,” and “coverd,” which reduce the accuracy of the description. Aim for precise plan vocabulary such as “located,” “converted into,” and “along the western wall,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “which” and clauses describing what changed. However, control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships between features hard to follow. For example, “there was serving area … which replaced by a hot meal area” lacks the required passive verb form, while “the most focused area which takes most of the place is table and chairs” has problems with articles and sentence construction. Agreement and tense are also uncertain in “the outside … is showing is a new two thing.” Use clear past-tense forms for the former plan and present-tense forms for the current one, and build shorter, complete sentences before attempting longer comparisons.

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

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