Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The two maps illustrate the main developments that have taken place in Porth Harbour between the year 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone significant commercialization and infrastructure expansion, transforming from a simple fishing and historical site into a more tourism-focused facility with increased amenities.
In the western sector, the positions of the fishing boats and the marina for private yachts have been swapped. The fishing boats area is now located in the northwest, while the marina has been expanded and moved to the southwest. To accommodate visitors, an additional car park, as well as a second set of showers and toilets, have been constructed alongside the new marina area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| 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 task achievement score. While the introduction and overview are clear and identify the main trends, the body paragraph is incomplete. It covers the western sector but fails to describe the significant changes in the eastern sector, such as the addition of the hotel, the new beach, and the removal of the old boat storage. Because the response is under-length and omits key features of the map, it cannot be considered a fully developed summary of the information provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction and a concise overview. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In the western sector' and 'while' helps to guide the reader through the information provided. However, because the response is incomplete, the overall progression is stunted. There is no concluding paragraph or further development of the eastern side of the harbour, which makes the structure feel unfinished. Paragraphing is present but limited due to the brevity of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is appropriate for the task and demonstrates a good level of precision. Phrases such as 'undergone significant commercialization', 'infrastructure expansion', and 'tourism-focused facility' are well-chosen and relevant to the context of describing map changes. There are no spelling errors, and the language is natural. While the range is sufficient for the task, it is limited by the short length of the response, preventing the demonstration of a wider variety of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The grammar is generally accurate, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of the passive voice ('have been swapped', 'have been constructed') is appropriate for describing changes in a process or map. There are no major grammatical errors that impede communication. However, the limited length of the response restricts the opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of complex grammatical structures, which is necessary for higher band scores.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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