Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-18

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 maps showing a college cafe area before and after the renovation how it is looking now.

Overall, there are big changes in the cafe of a college. The cafe before was looking rushy and congested place. But, after the renovation the map of a college is looking vast in addition well managed everthing.

First of all, we will discuss here about the cafe map of an education institue. In this canteen, the kitchen and serving area for all food and drinks at the same place mixed just be divided with the wall. Then in front there is a small sitting area full of tables and chairs and in that conjested hall there is also staff dining room and at the corner dustbin is placed and toilets located.

Now, we see here the map after the redesigning. The cafe after renovation is looking vast than previous. The kitchen area and hot meals cabins are both separated. There are two divided bars for take away food and coffee and big area for furniture and at the side recyclebin and toilets find. In addition, the main difference between the cafe before and after is outdoor sitting facility and barbecue availability in new cafe have.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover both plans and identify the main overall change: the café gains new food and drink facilities and an outdoor seating area with a barbecue. You also report several relevant features, including the kitchen, seating, toilets and recycling bins. This gives the reader a generally accurate account of the redesign. However, some comparisons are unclear or imprecise: the kitchen and hot-meal counter are not described as “both separated,” and the original staff dining rooms are not clearly contrasted with the new takeaway and coffee-bar sections. The overview that the café is “vast” and “well managed” is also not firmly supported by the plan. To strengthen the response, describe the specific changes in location and function, and avoid judging congestion or management unless the plans demonstrate it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about the original plan and one about the redesigned café. Sequencing phrases such as “First of all” and “Now” help distinguish the two stages, and the reader can follow the broad comparison. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes list-like, and links between details are not always clear. For example, “in that conjested hall there is also staff dining room and at the corner dustbin is placed” combines several locations without specifying their relationships. The repeated use of “cafe map” and “after renovation” also makes the organisation feel somewhat mechanical. Group features by area—north, west, centre and south—and use clear contrasts to make the comparison more cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “serving area,” “tables and chairs,” “take away food,” “coffee” and “barbecue,” so the main subject is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “congested” and “renovation.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or informal: “looking rushy,” “vast,” “cabins,” “furniture” and “availability” do not describe the plan precisely. Spelling and word formation errors such as “institue,” “conjested,” “everthing” and “recyclebin” further reduce accuracy. Build a more precise set of terms for describing plans, such as “counter,” “facility,” “seating area” and “located,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the response is divided into paragraphs that make the main stages clear. Some meaning remains understandable despite grammatical errors. However, sentence structures are often faulty, particularly when describing locations and changes. For example, “The given maps showing…” lacks a correctly formed main verb, while “the main difference … is outdoor sitting facility and barbecue availability in new cafe have” has an incomplete and confusing construction. There are also problems with articles, agreement and tense, as in “there is also staff dining room” and “toilets located.” Aim for complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent present-tense forms to describe both plans. Practising accurate location clauses would also help.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.