Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08
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 supplied maps compare the current layout of Porth Harbour with it design from 2000.
Overall, it is immediately apparent that the harbour has two land extensions from the main road one having docks for passenger ferries and an other had a castle which has been refurbished into a hotel.
The northern section of the harbour had a dock and a public beach and now a new dock has been constructed besides the previous one. There were a section for private yachts, showers and toilets and a car park to the west of these docks, which are still there but the yachts has been relocated.
At the southern wing, the harbour had a car park connected to the road connecting main road and lifeboating area
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While you have identified some main features, such as the land extensions and the conversion of the castle, the description is incomplete. Several areas of the map, such as the specific changes to the southern wing and the overall comparison, are under-developed or left unfinished. To improve, ensure you provide a comprehensive overview and describe all significant changes shown in the diagrams to meet the length requirement and provide a balanced summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'At the southern wing', the transitions between sentences are occasionally mechanical. The final paragraph is incomplete, which disrupts the logical flow of the report. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your observations more fluidly throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'refurbished', 'relocated', and 'constructed' being appropriate for describing map changes. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'an other had a castle' instead of 'another featured a castle'. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more specific descriptive language related to spatial changes and development, such as 'transformed', 'extended', or 'modernised'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that detract from the quality. For example, 'the yachts has been relocated' contains a subject-verb agreement error, and 'road connecting main road' is repetitive and awkward. Additionally, there are punctuation issues and missing articles throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent verb tenses when comparing past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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