Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-01

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)

Two plans illustrate the designs of college cafe before and after the transformation.

Overall area, old cafe under went the significant redesigning. The area became notably more modern and accessible with advancements.

On the one hand, The old design of cafe depicts the basic and contemporary theme which includes kitchen, rooms for staff dining, bin and toilets. Moreover, the sitting area in previous cafe shows less number of seats.

On the other hand, The design of new cafe illustrates the advance and modren style of sitting and edibble items. Apparently, its little bit larger than the older cafe. Furthermore, it includes more sitting area at out side. Although, kitchen, toilets, bin area and inside's tables and chairs are at same place but there is a transformation of dining rooms for staff with take away and coffee bar. Overall, old design depicts simple and basic theme whereas new design is modren and advance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad change from a basic café to a redesigned one and mention several relevant features, including the kitchen, toilets, seating, and the replacement of staff dining rooms with takeaway and coffee facilities. However, the overview is vague: describing the new café as “more modern” does not clearly summarise the main functional changes. Some details are inaccurate or unsupported, such as saying the café is “a little bit larger” and that the number of seats was lower before; the plans do not establish these comparisons. Important changes are also omitted, notably the salad bar, hot-meal counter, recycling bins, and barbecue. To strengthen the response, give a precise overview and report the main additions and replacements accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs contrasting the old and new plans. Phrases such as “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help signal the comparison, and the reader can follow the general before-and-after organisation. However, these transitions feel somewhat mechanical, and the final sentence repeats the earlier contrast between a “simple and basic” design and a “modern and advanced” one rather than adding useful information. Some references are also unclear, particularly “its little bit larger,” which does not specify what “it” refers to. Grouping changes by location or by what was retained, replaced, and added would create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “kitchen,” “staff dining,” “take away,” and “tables and chairs,” so the basic subject is clear. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a plan. “Edibble items” is unclear, while “advancements” and “modern and advanced” are vague rather than precise descriptions of facilities. Spelling errors such as “modren” and “out side” are noticeable, and “sitting area” is less suitable than the standard term “seating area.” Aim to use specific labels from the plans and vary them with accurate terms such as “counter,” “facility,” “outdoor seating,” and “replaced.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including a contrast with “Although,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, some sentence structures are incomplete or awkward. “Although, kitchen, toilets, bin area and inside's tables and chairs are at same place” begins with a subordinating conjunction but does not form a complete sentence independently; it also needs articles and clearer grammatical relationships. Other examples include “cafe under went” and “its little bit larger,” where verb form or sentence construction is faulty. Capitalisation after “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” is inconsistent. Build complete sentences around each comparison and check articles, possessives, and punctuation.

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