Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The maps illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone considerable development, particularly with the addition of facilities for tourists. The most significant changes are the construction of a hotel, cafés and shops, the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, and the conversion of the southern public beach into a private beach.
In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained two car parks with showers and toilets. Moreover, Marina for private yachts was in the north-west direction, while fishing boats were in the south.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to fully address the task. While you have identified some main features, such as the construction of tourist facilities and the relocation of the marina, the description is incomplete. You have not described the eastern side of the harbour or the changes to the car parks and the lifeboat station. Because the response is less than 100 words, it fails to provide a comprehensive summary or a full comparison of the two maps, resulting in a low score for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and a single body paragraph. There is a logical attempt to sequence the information, starting with the general overview and moving to specific details. However, the abrupt ending and the lack of a concluding summary or further development mean that the progression is not fully realised. Cohesive devices are used sparingly, such as 'Moreover' and 'while', but the limited length prevents the demonstration of a wider range of linking words or sophisticated paragraphing skills.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the task, with terms like 'undergone considerable development', 'relocation', and 'conversion' showing a decent level of precision. However, the range is limited due to the brevity of the text. There are no significant errors in word choice, but the lack of variety and the inability to describe more complex features of the map prevent a higher score. To improve, you should aim to use a wider variety of descriptive verbs and nouns to detail the spatial changes more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The grammar is generally accurate, with simple and compound sentences constructed correctly. For example, 'The maps illustrate the changes that have taken place' is a grammatically sound opening. However, the range of structures is limited; there is a lack of complex sentence structures or varied grammatical forms that would demonstrate higher proficiency. Because the text is so short, there is insufficient evidence to judge a wider range of grammatical control, and the errors that are present are minor, but the overall complexity is quite low.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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