Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05

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 5.0)

The map illustrate the information about porth harbour in 2000 and now

It is evident from the first map that,there was a main road which leads to different roads in 2000. In north- south there were two car park and shower and toilets after that there was marina private yachts and fishing boats then there was castle and a small public beach in north- south . In west - east there were one more public beach and dock and lifeboat and one last thing is passenger ferries

On the other hand there is lot of things now . predominantly, again main road leads two car parks and there is two shower and toilets then there is fishing boats in North side and in south there is marina . In south there is also cafes and shops with life boats which are not in past. Docks and passenger ferries are also there and there is also in east side hotel is available and private beach .

Overall in past and in future both have same paces but now there is more places

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main features of the harbour in 2000 and the present day. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, such as the expansion of commercial facilities. The reporting of features is occasionally imprecise, for example, stating 'in north-south' rather than using clear directional markers. While the main points are covered, the comparison between the two time periods is underdeveloped. To improve, you should focus on grouping features logically (e.g., commercial vs. recreational) and providing a more analytical summary of the transformation rather than simply listing items.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and sometimes awkward, such as the frequent use of 'then there was' and 'there is'. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the list of features feels like a catalogue rather than a cohesive description. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between the past and present could be smoother to better highlight the contrast.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic structures like 'there is' and 'there were'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'in future' (when referring to the present) and 'same paces' (likely meaning 'same places'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the map features with precision; for instance, using 'one last thing' is too informal for an academic report. You need to incorporate more specific terminology related to maps and urban development, such as 'situated', 'replaced', 'expanded', or 'converted'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The map illustrate', 'there is lot of things') and missing articles ('in north-south', 'in east side'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas and missing spaces after punctuation marks. While the meaning is generally clear, the sentence structures are simple and lack the complexity required for higher bands. You should focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions of place to improve the accuracy of your writing.

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