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)
The given diagram shows the change in the map of the port harbor in 2000's and today.
Overall, the shower toilets and car parking is been unchanged, the most of the development is done in western and southern parts of the harbor. Some facilities have relocated and the castle is replaced by hotel.
The showers and toilets, car parking on the western part of the harbor and are unchanged. The marina and fishing boats were been replaced one another in todays time. The eastern part has the public beach and dock where the passenger ferries located.
Later, there were new facilities emerging over the time like cafes and shops. Beside the cafe the lifeboat were placed and also the eastern side has a hotel which has its own private beach. Before there were castle which was replaced by hotel and private beach. the western part has main road which is inter-linked to car parks, showers and fishing boats. The road is also connected to main road.
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 identifies the main features of the harbour, such as the relocation of facilities and the replacement of the castle with a hotel. However, the description is somewhat confusing and lacks precision. For example, stating that 'the marina and fishing boats were been replaced one another' is unclear and does not accurately describe the spatial changes shown in the diagrams. While the overview attempts to highlight the main trends, the lack of clarity in reporting specific locations and the failure to clearly contrast the two time periods limit the effectiveness of the response. To improve, ensure that the information is presented in a more structured and accurate manner, focusing on clear comparisons between 2000 and the present day.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the use of 'Later' to start a paragraph, which does not fit the context of describing a static map comparison. The progression of ideas is difficult to follow because the spatial relationships between the facilities are not clearly articulated. For instance, the transition between describing the eastern and western parts of the harbour is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, which restricts the ability to describe the changes with precision. There are several instances of awkward word choice and incorrect collocations, such as 'shower toilets' instead of 'shower and toilet facilities' and 'in todays time' instead of 'today' or 'currently'. The range of vocabulary is limited to simple descriptors, which prevents the essay from achieving a higher score. To improve, you should aim to use more precise terminology for describing map changes, such as 'demolished', 'constructed', 'expanded', or 'relocated', and ensure that you use nouns and verbs in their correct forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are significant issues with verb tenses and auxiliary verbs, such as 'is been unchanged', 'were been replaced', and 'Before there were castle'. These errors are persistent and demonstrate a lack of control over basic sentence structures. While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, the correct use of passive voice for describing changes, and ensuring that articles and prepositions are used accurately. Consistent practice with basic sentence construction will help reduce the frequency of these errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.