Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-12

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 AVAILABLE DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATES THE HARBOUR STRUCTURE IN 2000 AND CHANGES IN PLANS AFTER MODIFICATIONS.

THERE WAS A PUBLIC BEACH AT PORTH HARBOUR IN 2000 WHICH WAS REPLACED BY PRIVATE BEACH OPPOSITE TO ROAD AND A SMALL LINK BELT ARISE FROM MAIN LINKS TO HOTEL IN EAST SIDE WHICH WAS CASTLE BEFORE AND LIFE BOAT AREA UNCHANGES BUT A SITE FOR CAFES & SHOPS INTRODUCED AFTER STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN WEST.

ANOTHER TRANSFORMATION IS MARINA PRIVATE YACHTS WAS REPLACED WITH FISHING BOATS SITE. ALTHOUGH SHOWERS& TOILETS RAMAINED IN SAME LOCATION AT NORTH BUT ANOTHER SHOWER& TOILETS AREA BUILT NEXT TO CAR PARK IN SOUTH SIDE OF PORTH HARBOUR CURRENTLY.

IT IS CLEARLY INDICATED BY BOTH PICTURES OPEN SEA AREA RESERVED FOR PESSENGER FERRIES AND THERE WAS NO LINK WITH DOCK WHICH WAS SEPERATED SITE IN NORTH PUBLICH BEACH BUT LATER AFTER MODIFICATIONS IN OVERALL STRUCTURE THERE ARE MULTIPLE DOCK SPOTS WITH INTERCONNECTIONS TO BOAT SITES.AFTER REBUILDING PLANS IT IS CLEAR THAT MAIN AREAS REMAINED SAME BUT BUNCH OF SHOWERS& TOILETS AND REPLACMENT FOR MARINA WITH FISHING BOATS ARE MAJOUR CHANGES FOR PORTH HARBOUR .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important changes, including the former castle becoming a hotel, the southern beach becoming private, cafés and shops being added, and the marina and fishing-boat areas changing places. These are relevant features and show that you understand the broad transformation. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the marina was relocated to the southern water area, rather than simply “replaced” by fishing boats, and the northern public beach remained. The claim that the passenger-ferry area had “no link with dock” is not clearly supported by the plans. Your overview that the main areas remained the same is also too general; state the major changes more precisely, including the relocation of facilities and the hotel development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is divided into paragraphs and uses linking expressions such as “Another transformation” and “Although,” so there is some organisation. However, the progression is difficult to follow because several changes are combined in long sentences, and the final paragraph shifts between ferries, the dock, the beach and an overall summary without clear sequencing. References such as “which was castle before” and “there” are not always easy to connect to the relevant location. Organise the report into a brief overview followed by grouped details—for example, changes to the southern shore and changes around the harbour basin. Use linking words to show clear comparisons, rather than relying on broad phrases such as “after modifications.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of map-related vocabulary, including “structural transformation,” “introduced,” “reserved” and “interconnections.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “small link belt,” “main links,” “multiple dock spots” and “bunch of showers.” Spelling errors—including “PESSENGER,” “SEPERATED,” “RAMAINED” and “MAJOUR”—also reduce precision. Some labels are reproduced in a way that obscures the intended comparison: “Marina private yachts was replaced with fishing boats site” does not clearly explain that the two uses exchanged locations. Prefer the map’s exact labels and straightforward verbs such as “relocated,” “remained” and “was converted into.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast with “Although” and a time comparison using “before,” but control is inconsistent. For example, “The available diagrams illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “Marina private yachts was replaced” lacks a clear grammatical subject and uses an incorrect verb form. Articles and sentence structure are also problematic in phrases such as “a site for cafes & shops introduced” and “a small link belt arise from main links to hotel.” Several sentences run together, making relationships between clauses difficult to understand. Build shorter, complete sentences first, checking subject–verb agreement, articles and past-tense forms; then add subordinate clauses where the comparison is clear.

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.