Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-11
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 plan displays how a harbour was looking in 2000 and how it looks now after some changes have been made.
Overview, this illustrates the changes made over the years like adding of marina, car and shopes and some other thing that was included.
In 2000, the Port Harbour consisted of so many things and places where someone can have fun until it was renovated and some changes were being made such as another showers and toilets which was added and currently is now two as a result of more people using it so that they can be more space for the individuals.
Also the castle at the south east was converted to an hotel in other to create accomodations since it was not in use. Then there was a change in the building, the fishing boat was exchanged with the marina.
In concludti
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student attempts to describe the changes, the report is incomplete and lacks a proper conclusion. The overview is vague, using phrases like 'some other thing', which fails to clearly highlight the main features or significant trends. The description of the harbour's evolution is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the task. The response is also cut off mid-sentence at the end, indicating a lack of planning and time management.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a logical structure. The introduction and overview are poorly integrated, and the body paragraphs are disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and often misused, such as the awkward transition 'In concludti'. Paragraphing is present but ineffective due to the incomplete nature of the final section. The progression of ideas is difficult to follow because the information is presented in a fragmented manner without clear links between the 2000 state and the current state of the harbour.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'things', 'places', and 'changes'. There are several inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'shopes' instead of 'shops', 'an hotel' (incorrect article), and 'concludti'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the visual data with precision. To improve, the student needs to incorporate more specific terminology related to urban planning and map description, such as 'redeveloped', 'converted', 'expanded', or 'replaced'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'The plan displays how a harbour was looking' (incorrect tense/aspect), 'adding of marina' (missing article), and 'another showers and toilets which was added' (subject-verb agreement error). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent. The student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles to improve clarity and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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