Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-10
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 diagrams below illustrates a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Overall, there is the big difference between the two plans of Porth harbour. Today's plan in which the car parking facility is increasing and make a cafés and shops at the bank of river. And fishing boats opportunity and Dock rebuild.
The diagram of Porth harbour in 2000 was that, in which two car parking made and Private yachts facilities included. And public beach was presented. Moreover, on the other hand life boat presented and public beach. And this was very simple.
The today's design is the addition of many facilities. Firstly, it makes a hotel at the bank of river and this hotel has a private beach. People can enjoy this facility. In addition to that, showers and toilets was only one in past plans but now it is two. On the East side, Dock is rebuilt and now two boats are available in same time. In the south east, the best facility is cafés and shops, it is near the water and people enjoy the outside or natural water view. Furthermore, in new design fishing boats and marina's location change. In new plan it is opposite to each other.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to describe the changes in the harbour, but it fails to provide a clear overview or a logical summary of the main features. While some changes are mentioned, such as the addition of a hotel and the relocation of fishing boats, the description is fragmented and lacks a professional, analytical tone. The information is presented in a disjointed manner, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the transformation from 2000 to the present. Key features are listed rather than compared effectively, and the lack of a clear, cohesive summary of the major trends (such as the shift toward commercial/tourist facilities) limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or incorrect, such as starting sentences with 'And' or 'The diagram of Porth harbour in 2000 was that, in which...'. The progression of ideas is not logical; the transition between the description of the past and the present is abrupt. Referencing is often unclear, and the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel like a list of observations rather than a cohesive report. The overall arrangement lacks a clear, logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'big difference', 'made', and 'presented' are used in ways that do not fit the context of describing a map. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'fishing boats opportunity' and 'at the bank of river'. The student struggles to use precise terminology related to maps or urban development (e.g., 'facility' is overused). While the meaning is generally understandable, the range is insufficient to convey the information with the precision required for an Academic Task 1 response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('showers and toilets was', 'cafés and shops... is'), article usage ('the bank of river'), and sentence structure (e.g., 'Today's plan in which the car parking facility is increasing and make a cafés and shops'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or incorrectly formed complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and sentence fragments. The lack of control over basic grammar significantly limits the ability to communicate complex information accurately.
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