Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The map lillustrates the condition of the Porth Harbour in 2000 and the changes that have done in recent days.

It is clear that lots of development occured during this period and now this harbour offer more facilities to the tourists.

To start with in 2000 there is a one showers and toilets for the tourist but now one extra showers and toilets established in south western side of the hourbour also a road created to conneted the car parks with main roads. In the south side the public beach is now become a private beach for the hotel and disused castle is now used as a hotel.

In 2000 there was one dock for passenger ferries but now a extra dock in established which will surely handle more passenger than beofore. Cafes and shops are now avalible in the hourbour near the road which is not there in 2000. In the noth-estern side the public beach reamins the as it was in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall change—that the harbour has been developed with more tourist facilities—and report several relevant comparisons, including the hotel replacing the disused castle, the southern beach becoming private, and cafés and shops being added. You also correctly note that the north-eastern public beach remains. However, some important changes are omitted or unclear: the marina and fishing-boat areas have exchanged locations, and the dock has an additional jetty rather than an additional dock. The claim that a road was created is not supported by the plans, and the statement about “one extra” showers and toilets is imprecise because the facilities are added in a new location. Covering these features accurately and distinguishing additions from relocations would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a brief overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. Phrases such as “To start with” and “In the south side” help signal movement between features, and the comparisons generally follow a sensible order. However, the body paragraphs group details somewhat loosely, and some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “also a road created” is attached to the facilities comparison without a clear relationship, while “In the noth-estern side” introduces a separate point abruptly. Organise the details by area or by type of change, and use clearer references to distinguish the two beaches, car parks, and dock features. This would strengthen progression and make the comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “public beach,” “private beach,” “passenger ferries,” “disused castle,” and “cafes and shops,” so the reader can understand the general subject. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “hourbour,” “conneted,” “beofore,” and “avalible.” Some expressions are also unnatural or inaccurate, such as “changes that have done” and “one extra dock,” which mislabels the added jetty. Aim for accurate map vocabulary and natural collocations, and check spelling carefully. More precise verbs such as “relocated,” “replaced,” and “remained” would help describe the changes without relying on general wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “the changes that have done” needs a passive form (“the changes that have taken place”), while “this harbour offer” requires subject–verb agreement (“offers”). In “there is a one showers,” the article and plural form do not agree; “there was one shower and toilet facility” would be clearer. The sentence beginning “In the south side” also shifts awkwardly between past and present forms. Practise consistent past and present tenses when comparing the two plans, and use complete, accurately punctuated sentences.

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