Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-31

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)

As we see the both design of cafe before and today, if I have to compare or select any of these idea i ill definitely select the present plan. As we can can see both of the creative ideas there are some logical changes i can see in today's plan

It clearly shows in present cafe they like to expand there cafe little bit more, as the addition of outdoor sitting is a better choice, although there were many customers who like to have there coffee in open area, they also take care of good higine when the apply the different section for take away and hot meals, by doing this it will easy to divide the crowd.As they increase the seating arrangement cafe added to more entry and exits.

There is also a addition of sepereate of counters for coffee, salad and barbecue, however it will increace there staffs and chefs but doing every this sepreate is a better option rather than doing thing in one place .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response recognises that the café has been redesigned and mentions several relevant changes, including outdoor seating, separate food counters and additional entrances. However, it mainly gives a personal preference and speculative comments about customers, hygiene and staffing rather than objectively summarising the plans. Important factual changes are missing or unclear: the kitchen remains, the former staff dining rooms become takeaway and coffee-bar areas, a salad bar is added, and the toilets stay in the same place. The claim that there are separate counters for coffee, salad and barbecue is inaccurate: the barbecue is outside, while the plan labels hot meals, takeaway food, a coffee bar and a salad bar. A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would make the report more complete and better grounded in the visual information.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: the opening introduces a comparison, and the following paragraphs discuss changes to the café and its seating. Basic linking expressions such as “although,” “also” and “however” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the response does not progress through the plans in a clear, systematic way, and the opening focuses on which design the writer would choose rather than establishing an overview. Several ideas are crowded into long sentences, while the final paragraph introduces counters and staffing without clearly relating each point to a location or change. Some connections are also difficult to follow, as in “by doing this it will easy to divide the crowd.” Grouping changes by indoor layout and outdoor additions, with clearer reference to the before-and-after plans, would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant vocabulary, including “outdoor seating,” “seating arrangement,” “take away” and “separate,” so the reader can identify the general subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, such as “expand there cafe little bit more,” “addition of sepereate of counters” and “doing every this sepreate.” Spelling errors—including “higine,” “increace” and “sepreate”—are noticeable and sometimes make the intended wording harder to understand. The response also relies on general terms such as “things” and “ideas” instead of naming the plan features precisely. Practise accurate forms such as “hygiene,” “increase” and “separate,” and use specific labels from the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, for example the clause beginning “although there were many customers” and the sentence starting “As they increase the seating arrangement.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “if I have to compare … i ill definitely select,” “it will easy to divide the crowd,” and “As they increase the seating arrangement cafe added to more entry and exits.” These show problems with verb forms, missing verbs or articles, and sentence construction. Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent, particularly in the opening and in long sentences joined without clear boundaries. Build accuracy first with shorter comparison sentences, then add subordinate clauses once the basic subject–verb structure is secure.

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