Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03
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 maps depict how the harbour looks in 2000 and the changes in recent times.
Overall, some areas have been developed in the new locations and some places have been transformed. Furthermore, few areas have been added which are hotel, cafes & shops and private beach.
In the year 2000, the main road was located on western side of the map and it still has remained at the same place. Then, in the south side, there was a castle which has now been replaced by a hotel. Also, new road has been added which has connected with the hotel. In addition, besides the hotel, public beach has been transformed into private beach especially for the hotel members. There was only one shower and toilet facility but after constructing added one more shower and toilet area near large car parking.
Today, the number has been increased in the boats for a passenger ferries. Fishing boats and marina have exchanged the place with each other. Near the lifeboat region, cafes and shops has been newly made in south side. The another public beach which was on the north side of the map it is still has remained unchanged.
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 covers the main features of the harbour, identifying key changes such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the addition of new facilities. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, analytical summary of the overall trends. While the response identifies specific changes, it struggles to synthesize the information effectively. For example, the description of the 'fishing boats and marina' swapping places is a good observation, but the overall reporting of the data could be more precise. The response addresses all parts of the task, but the development of ideas is somewhat mechanical, which limits the score to a 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas, moving from the road and castle to the beach and then the harbour facilities. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes repetitive or slightly unnatural, such as the frequent use of 'also' and 'then'. The referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between sentences feel a bit disjointed. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a coherent manner, meeting the requirements for a 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'transformed' and 'facilities', but there are also instances of awkward word choice, such as 'the number has been increased in the boats' and 'exchanged the place with each other'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited range of lexical control. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on more precise collocations and varied descriptive language related to maps and urban development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'the number has been increased in the boats for a passenger ferries' (incorrect article usage and word order) and 'the another public beach... it is still has remained unchanged' (redundant subject and incorrect verb tense). These errors occur frequently but do not prevent the reader from understanding the intended meaning. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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