Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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 provided map illustrates a college cafe how it looks before and how is looking now.

Overall, it is clear that the new Barbecue area and outdoor seating is establish also, the small changes are made now Salar bar is added and the staff dinning romms is replaced by the take away food section and coffee bar.

Turning to the first category, before the kitchen area is located in the west north corner and there is a small service area is also loacted in the kitchen where all food and drinks are available.In addition, Tables and chairs are located in the centre there is a small bin are given on the east side and the toiletsis were also available in the south east corner.Moreover, Staff dining rooms were placed infront of tables and chairs area.

Regarding to the next category, now kitchen is existing at the same place but the serving area is replace by hot meals section and bins is upgrade by recycling bins. On the other hand, Salad bar add on the west side also Tables and chairs are on the same place but the staff dining rooms is change by the take away food or coffee bar area. Furthermore, the new Barbecue area is develope on the south oudoor and huge sitting is also available now.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response identifies the main transformation: the former staff dining rooms become takeaway and coffee areas, while a salad bar, outdoor seating and a barbecue are added. It also correctly notes that the kitchen, central tables and toilets remain in place, and that the serving counter becomes a hot-meals section. This gives a relevant overview and covers both plans. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: the serving area is described as being “in the kitchen,” and the outdoor seating is called “huge sitting,” without explaining its position or the four tables. The new southern doors and the entrance on the eastern wall are also omitted. The main features are selected appropriately, but clearer, more precise reporting would make the coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the original and redesigned café. Phrases such as “Turning to the first category” and “Regarding to the next category” signal a shift between the plans, and the reader can generally follow the comparison. However, these transitions sound mechanical, and some sentences combine several features without clear relationships. For example, the sentence beginning “In addition, Tables and chairs…” moves from the seating to the bin and toilets in a run-on sequence. The overview also packs several changes into one sentence, making the main message harder to absorb. Grouping features by location or by what stayed and changed, and using clearer sentence boundaries and references, would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses relevant map vocabulary, including “located,” “centre,” “east side,” “replaced,” and “recycling bins,” so the reader can identify many of the features. However, the range and control are limited, with repeated basic terms and several inaccurate or misspelled choices. “Huge sitting” does not naturally describe an outdoor dining area, while “service area” is less precise than the plan’s serving area. Errors such as “Salar bar,” “dinning romms,” and “oudoor” also reduce clarity and polish. Aim for accurate collocations and consistent terms for facilities and positions; for example, describe the outdoor tables as a seating area and use “counter” or “serving area” precisely. Proofreading spelling would also strengthen the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to use both simple and more complex sentences, including contrast with “On the other hand” and clauses introduced by “where.” However, control is limited, and errors occur in many sentences. The opening, “illustrates a college cafe how it looks before and how is looking now,” has faulty word order and verb construction. Agreement and verb forms are also problematic in “the new Barbecue area and outdoor seating is establish” and “the serving area is replace.” Several clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation, as in “Tables and chairs are located in the centre there is a small bin…,” while missing spaces after full stops further affect readability. Practise accurate present and past passive forms, subject–verb agreement, and separating complete clauses into clear sentences.

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