Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-27
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 diagrams outlines the multi- stage process involved in the compare of harbour in 2000 from initial extraction of final delivery.
Overall the diagrams comprises the main stages beginning with porth harbour in 2000 on south there it can be seen marina and in today diagram it changes in fishing boats and moving on down to main road it can be seen big car park and today they added showers and toilets there and after it the marina has developed on be half of fishing boats. Some more constructions can be seen in present harbour
Initially the dock space are enlarged with two boats parking as move further the cafes and shops are also developed there. The passenger ferries are as it is shown preveously. And they construct the hotel and moved castle disused. theyalso takes beaches for private use of hotel they make public beach little short in present time they also make roads broaded so more people can visit there
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to describe the changes in the harbour, but it fails to accurately identify the subject matter, incorrectly referring to a 'multi-stage process' and 'extraction' instead of a geographical map comparison. While some features like the marina, car park, and hotel are mentioned, the description is often confusing and lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes. The reporting of data is inconsistent, and the lack of clarity regarding the spatial layout makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the two time periods. To improve, focus on clearly identifying the key trends, such as the expansion of facilities and the shift in land use, rather than listing details in a disjointed manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay lacks a clear logical progression. The paragraphing is ineffective, with the introduction and body paragraphs merging into a single block of text that is difficult to navigate. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and often incorrect way, such as 'moving on down to main road' and 'and after it', which do not effectively link ideas. The referencing is frequently unclear, making it hard to distinguish between the 2000 layout and the current one. To improve, use clear paragraph breaks for the introduction, overview, and specific details, and employ a wider range of linking words to guide the reader through the comparison.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. Phrases like 'on be half of' (on behalf of) and 'moved castle disused' are misused, leading to confusion. There is a lack of precise terminology for describing maps or geographical changes, such as 'broaded' instead of 'widened' or 'expanded'. The student relies on basic, repetitive language, which restricts the ability to convey the information clearly. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'extended', and 'demolished', and ensure that words are used in their correct collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are significant issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The diagrams outlines', 'the diagrams comprises'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence structures. Many sentences are fragmented or run-on, making the text difficult to parse. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and incorrect capitalization. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring that subjects and verbs agree, and practicing the correct use of tenses when describing past and present states. Reducing the complexity of sentences until basic accuracy is achieved would be a beneficial strategy.
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