Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04
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 illustrate the changes that have been taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the Harbour has been considerably modernized with many facilities added for tourist with some original features such as public beach and life boat. Some places have been replace or changed such as fishing boats and cafes and shops.
In 2000, the western side of the Harbour there were two car parking and place for showers and toilets. There were no cafe and shops in the Harbour. To the north- east there were dock and place for passenger ferries.
In the present days they have some notable changes in the Harbour. The fishing has been moved in north- east side and the marina private yachts replace with the fishing boats. The cafe and shops have been added in the present Habour. The showers and toilets have been built. It have more facilities for tourists.
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 provides a clear overview of the changes, identifying the main trends such as modernization and the addition of tourist facilities. You successfully highlight key shifts, such as the relocation of fishing activities and the introduction of a marina. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial layout. For instance, you mention 'two car parking' and 'place for showers' without clearly contrasting their locations or noting if they were removed or relocated. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more specific comparisons between the two time periods, such as noting the expansion or reduction of specific zones, rather than just listing changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the past and present. This structure is effective. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'In 2000' and 'In the present days' are used to transition, but there is a lack of more sophisticated linking words to connect ideas within sentences. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as 'they have some notable changes', where the subject 'they' does not refer back to a clear antecedent. Improving the variety of transition signals would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modernized', 'facilities', and 'relocated'. However, there are several instances of inaccurate word choice and collocation, such as 'fishing has been moved in north-east side' (should be 'to the north-east') and 'marina private yachts replace with the fishing boats' (should be 'replaced the fishing boats'). There are also minor errors in word form, such as 'tourist' instead of 'tourists'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing map changes and ensure correct preposition usage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'changes that have been taken place' (should be 'have taken place'), 'There were no cafe and shops' (should be 'cafes and shops'), and 'It have more facilities' (should be 'It has'). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and verb tense consistency will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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