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 given below maps illustrates the changes in college cafe before redesign and after design how it looks now.

Overall, barbecue and outdoor seating were built after the new design map. Serving area and bin were converted into hot meals and recycling bins. New area was built in left side of cafe.

To begin with, north side, the kitchen size was remain same after the redesign cafe. The serving area (all foods & drink) was rebuild into the hot meals section accquring the same area after redesign. Moreover, in the cafe staff dinning rooms were reconstruct into take away food and ccoffee bar after the replan.

On the other, on the right side of cafe small size of bin was replanned into huge recycling bins. Toilets were remain same. Tables and chairs sitting were on the middle of cafe. In addition, outdoor seating and barbecue were built outside of the cafe after the new design.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main transformation: the former staff dining rooms become takeaway and coffee facilities, the serving counter becomes a hot-meal section, and outdoor seating with a barbecue is added. You also correctly note that the kitchen, central tables and chairs, and toilets remain. This gives a relevant overview and covers changes inside and outside the café. However, some important details are omitted or unclear: the new salad bar on the western wall is not mentioned, and “New area was built in left side of cafe” does not accurately identify it. The comparison of the bin with recycling bins is also described as a change in size, which the plans do not establish. More precise reporting of these features would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. The sequence from the northern area to the right side and then the exterior gives the reader a basic route through the plans. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Moreover,” and “In addition” help signal relationships between points. However, some transitions are mechanical or unclear, particularly “On the other,” which does not form a complete contrast, and “To begin with, north side” is an awkward way to introduce location. The overview also repeats details later without clearly grouping unchanged features separately from additions. Use clearer spatial signposting and organise the body around internal changes, unchanged features, and exterior additions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant plan vocabulary, including “redesign,” “hot meals,” “recycling bins,” “toilets,” and “outdoor seating,” so the reader can follow the general changes. There are also attempts to vary wording with terms such as “converted” and “reconstruct.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a plan: “huge recycling bins” adds an unsupported size judgement, “sitting” is not the right noun for the seating area, and “built in left side” is imprecise. Spelling errors such as “dinning” and “ccoffee” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise location and change vocabulary, such as “located,” “replaced by,” and “added along the western wall,” rather than using approximate or unsupported descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, control of verb forms and sentence construction is inconsistent. For example, “the kitchen size was remain same” combines an incorrect passive form with an awkward subject; “Toilets were remain same” has the same verb-form problem. In “the serving area … was rebuild,” the passive construction needs a past participle, while “staff dinning rooms were reconstruct” also has an incorrect verb form. Articles and prepositions are sometimes missing or misplaced, as in “in left side of cafe.” Build reliable patterns such as “The kitchen remained unchanged” and “The staff dining rooms were replaced by…” before attempting longer sentences.

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