Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

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)

There is a main road and next to the road there is a car park and showers and toilets in the map, then we have marina and on the right side there are 2 boats in a big sea and against it there is a life boat and castle, along side with the castle there is public beach for people to enjoy and then a raod.

In Today harbor it is almost same just cafee, shops and hotels are new in the place and the rest boats and roads are the same, the same sea with boats and beach and people often come and enjoy here.

Comparison: Harbor in 2000 and today is almost similar, in 2000 there are boats and castle and it is in simple and elegant way but now a days there is modernism and therebis more cafee and hotel in harbor in order to stay here, for tourists mostly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe the changes in the harbour, but it fails to provide a clear overview or a structured summary of the main features. The description is fragmented and lacks the necessary precision required for an Academic Task 1 report. Key features are mentioned in a list-like fashion rather than being integrated into a coherent analysis of the spatial changes. The comparison is superficial, failing to highlight the specific locations of the new developments (e.g., the replacement of the car park with shops and hotels). To improve, you must group information logically and provide a clear summary of the most significant trends observed between the two time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into three short paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. There is a lack of logical progression; the sentences are strung together with repetitive use of 'and' and 'then', which makes the flow mechanical. Cohesive devices are largely absent or misused, such as the abrupt transition to 'Comparison:' at the end. Referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout of the harbour. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'whereas', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple descriptors like 'big', 'same', and 'new'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'cafee' and 'raod', which distract the reader. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the visual data with precision; for instance, instead of 'almost same', you should use terms like 'remained largely unchanged' or 'underwent significant transformation'. To reach a higher band, you need to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to maps and urban development, such as 'infrastructure', 'amenities', 'converted', or 'situated'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'there is a main road and next to the road there is a car park', which is repetitive and lacks syntactic variety. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'in the map', 'in Today harbor'). Punctuation is inconsistent, and the lack of complex sentence structures limits your ability to convey relationships between the features. To improve, focus on using a mix of complex sentences with subordinate clauses and ensure consistent control over basic grammar rules.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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