Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-15

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 diagram illustrates about the university cafeteria before modification and after changes.

Overall, collage cafe was redesigned into several changes and relocations such as adding outdoor seating with barbecue and salad bar.

After analysing the diagram, it is cystal clear that the kitchen section was remained same. while serving area ( all food & drink ) was demolished and replaced by Hot meals. Whereas, instead of single bin they added recycling bins. Moreover, they vanished staff dining rooms and replace it with two different sections such as a take away food and a coffee bar.

Furthermore, on the opposite side of recyling bins they install salad bar counter. While on the outside they newly construct a barbecue with outdoor seating into a large area. However, washrooms area remained same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important changes, including the kitchen remaining in place, the replacement of the serving counter with a hot-meals counter, the new coffee and takeaway sections, and the addition of outdoor seating and a barbecue. The overview also captures the broad redesign. However, some key details are missing or unclear: the new doors in the southern wall, the four outdoor tables, and the salad bar’s position are not accurately described (“on the opposite side of recycling bins” is not the western-wall location shown). The response is also below the required 150 words, which limits how fully you can report and compare the plans. Develop the main changes more precisely and include the central seating area and toilets, which remain.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. This gives the reader a basic route through the comparison. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is uneven, and several linking words do not clearly express the relationship between ideas. For example, “Whereas” begins a fragment-like contrast, while “While” starts another sentence without a complete contrasting clause. “Moreover” and “Furthermore” also make the list feel mechanical rather than showing how the features relate spatially. Group changes by location—inside the café, then outside—and use complete sentences with clear references to the before and after plans to make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a redesigned space, including “relocations,” “recycling bins,” “staff dining rooms,” and “outdoor seating.” These terms help communicate the main subject. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “collage cafe,” “they vanished staff dining rooms,” and “construct a barbecue with outdoor seating into a large area.” “Cystal” and “recyling” are also spelling errors, and “washrooms” is less precise than the plan’s label, “toilets.” These issues sometimes make the description less clear. Aim for accurate plan vocabulary and natural verbs such as “was replaced,” “was converted into,” and “was added,” rather than forcing more elaborate phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “whereas,” and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, some sentence structures are incomplete or faulty. “The kitchen section was remained same” combines an incorrect passive form with a missing article; “Whereas, instead of single bin they added recycling bins” is not a complete independent sentence; and “they vanished staff dining rooms and replace it” has inconsistent verb forms and agreement. Capitalisation after “same.” and punctuation around the contrast clauses also need attention. Practise forming complete comparison sentences and checking tense consistency, articles, and subject–verb agreement. For example: “The kitchen remained unchanged, while the serving area was replaced by a hot-meals counter.”

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