Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The map illustrates Porth Harbour in the year 2000 and the changes applied to it in the present time.

In general, the harbour experienced many changes in its buildings, from replacements and new additions, to removals.

Initially, for the northern part of the harbour, there is an extension in the dock. Additionally, fishing boats and Marina have had their places replaced. Showers, toilets and cark parks remained unchanged.

Moreover, for the southern area, the disused castle in the east was replaced with a hotel. Similarly, the old public beach became a private beach for the hotel was. In the north of the road, cafes and shops were opened. Also, showers and toilets were added in the north of the car park.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While the main features of the harbour are identified, the analysis is quite brief. The overview is functional, but the description of changes lacks the depth and detail required for a higher band. For example, the report mentions the replacement of the castle and the beach but does not provide enough comparative detail or synthesis of the overall transformation. To improve, you must expand your descriptions by including more specific data or observations about the scale and nature of the changes to ensure the response is fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different areas of the harbour. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Additionally', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of information is generally clear, moving from the northern to the southern part of the harbour. However, the brevity of the text limits the complexity of the cohesion. To reach a higher band, ensure that your paragraphing is balanced and that you use a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect sentences and ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains somewhat basic. You successfully use terms like 'disused', 'replacements', and 'additions', which are relevant to the topic. However, there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would demonstrate a wider range. For instance, instead of 'had their places replaced', you could use more descriptive verbs. There are no significant spelling errors, but the range of vocabulary is limited by the short length of the response. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to urban planning or geographical changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are a few grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the hotel was' at the end of the sentence regarding the private beach, which is syntactically confusing. Additionally, 'in the north of the road' is slightly awkward phrasing. While the errors do not generally impede communication, the limited length of the text restricts the opportunity to demonstrate a wide range of complex grammatical structures. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of prepositions to describe locations more accurately.

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

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