Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-13

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 given upper two maps is is of a place named "harbour". One picture is of 2000 and another is of today.

We can see a huge difference in last two decades. There are a lot of changes made in last two decades and the area have quite developed. It has also become a tourist attraction as we can see that there is a hotel.

In early 2000 the north eastern side had only one dock for ferries and today we can see that another dock have also been constructed. At the west side "showers and toilets" area have also been constructed. Places have also been changed for private yachts and fishing boats. They have just substituted.

Another clear difference we can see on the south part of the map. That cafes and shops have been constructed there. In early 2000 there was a castle which was demolished and there was a hotel constructed for the tourists. The public beach on the south side had become a private beach for the tourist who were staying in hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the new dock, the hotel, and the cafes. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the description of the 'private yachts and fishing boats' is vague and lacks detail regarding their relocation. The report would benefit from a clearer overview paragraph that synthesizes the most significant changes, such as the transition from a functional harbour to a more tourist-oriented facility. While the key changes are identified, the lack of precise spatial referencing and a more analytical approach to the data limits the score. The response addresses the task requirements but lacks the depth of reporting expected at higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'another clear difference' and 'in early 2000' are used to link sentences, but the transition between ideas within paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is occasionally unclear; for instance, the phrase 'they have just substituted' is ambiguous and does not clearly link back to the previous sentence about boats. Improved use of linking words and better paragraph structure would enhance the logical flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on basic verbs like 'made', 'changed', and 'constructed' repeatedly. There is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'demolished' and 'tourist attraction', but the range is limited. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'upper two maps' or 'the area have quite developed'. To achieve a higher band, the student should incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and precise collocations related to urban development and map description, such as 'transformed', 'redeveloped', or 'converted'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'the given upper two maps is' and 'the area have quite developed'. There are also errors in article usage and sentence structure, such as 'That cafes and shops have been constructed there' (which is a sentence fragment). While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often marred by these inaccuracies. A greater focus on basic subject-verb agreement and sentence construction is necessary to improve clarity and accuracy.

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.