Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14
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 two plans illustrate a harbor in 2000 and how it looks today.
The port harbor is dived into two parts. One side lead to docks and public beach and another side to lifeboat and beach. There are new shops and facilities are developed.
In 2000, there are only 2 docks for passengers, while today one more dock is added. Before there used to be a castle on south-east corner but now hotel is developed there. Next to castle there is public beach which is now only accessible to hotel. In 2000, from the main road, two road is diverted at right side. First road is to castle and another is to showers and marina and fishing boats.
Today, there are three road diverted from main road. There is separate road for car parks and next to it is showers and toilets. The fishing area and marina is exchange is location then earlier year. At the north-west of hotel there is lifeboat area and cafes and shops are new developed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the two plans, identifying key changes such as the addition of a dock, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the reconfiguration of the road network. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift toward more commercial and tourist-oriented facilities. While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two time periods could be more analytical. The response addresses the task requirements, but the lack of a cohesive summary paragraph limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'In 2000', 'Today'). The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'Next to castle there is public beach which is now only accessible to hotel.' The logical flow is present but relies on simple, mechanical structures rather than a sophisticated range of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'dived into' (likely meant 'divided'), 'two road is diverted' (should be 'two roads are diverted'), and 'is exchange is location' (should be 'has changed its location'). The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptive terms, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations related to map description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('two road is diverted', 'shops and facilities are developed'), missing articles ('Next to castle'), and awkward sentence structures ('The fishing area and marina is exchange is location then earlier year'). While the writer attempts to use complex sentences, these are often marred by errors. The control of basic grammar is inconsistent, and punctuation is occasionally neglected.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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