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 presented maps illustrate the information about Porth Harbour port in 2000 and how it looks more modern today.
Overall, the harbour has been considerably modernized with some new facilities. In present time, such new facilities constructed for city people's enjoyment like hotel, cafe and shops.
In 2000, public beach was situated north-west corner. Porth harbour has a one dock area for passenger ships which was located southern side of public beach. Moreover, Castle and second public beach both were located on south-east corner. Main road pass westside of the map. 2 car parks connected with main road. Marina, fishing boat and lifeboat area located middle of the Porth harbour. Showers and toilets both were situated near car parking and marina.
In present time, another dock area constructed middle of the harbour. Cafes and shops built near the lifeboat area. Marina introduces now as fishing boats and fishing boats converted into marina. Another showers and toilets area built near the car parking. Castle was introduced as hotel for city people. one public beach is now become a privet beach for individuals who staying into hotel for their enjoyment. One small road constructed form main road to hotel for connectivity of hotel. Main road and public beach which is located north side both have remained same as it is
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour and provided a clear comparison between the two time periods. You covered the key changes, such as the new dock, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the shift in beach access. However, the response lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, and some details are slightly repetitive or under-developed. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'overview' paragraph highlights the most striking transformations rather than just listing new facilities. The description of the beach status change is a good example of identifying a key feature.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the past to the present. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'In present time', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'Main road pass westside of the map'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modernized', 'facilities', and 'connectivity'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'privet beach' (private), 'form main road' (from), and 'staying into hotel' (staying at). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on learning the correct prepositions and adjectives associated with the specific features of maps and urban development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors with articles (e.g., 'situated north-west corner'), verb tenses (e.g., 'another dock area constructed'), and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning remains clear, the grammatical slips are frequent enough to be noticeable. To progress, pay closer attention to the use of articles and ensure that passive voice constructions are formed correctly (e.g., 'was constructed' instead of 'constructed').
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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