Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17
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 pictures illustrate the plan of Porth Harbour in two different time of ,today and in 2000 year. According to the given plans it seem several things have changed their place while others are remain same.
Firstly, the number of passenger ferries have been increased to 3 from 2. Secondly, the number of showers and toilets doubled. One shower room and toilet has been added between the car parks. Fishing boats and marina(private yachts) have switched their location. On the left side of Road there is new Cafe & shops just before lifeboat has started service. The Castle which one disused in 2000 changed to Hotel, and the beach just near the castle has been changed to private from public. The new road to Hotel made from the Road which connect to Main Road. So, it can be said that the South East of Porth Harbour has been occupied by new hotel.
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 harbour plans, including the addition of facilities and the relocation of boats. However, the overview is weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes, such as the overall modernisation and commercialisation of the area. While the response identifies specific changes like the hotel conversion and the shift in boat locations, the description of the new road is slightly confusing and lacks precision. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more cohesive summary of the overall trends (e.g., the transition from a public/fishing-focused area to a more commercial/private one) rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into two paragraphs, which is acceptable, but the internal structure is somewhat list-like. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'So', but the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, for example, 'The Castle which one disused in 2000 changed to Hotel' lacks a smooth transition and proper grammatical integration. To improve, try to group related changes together (e.g., infrastructure vs. commercial facilities) and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly rather than relying on a sequence of simple sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use basic terms like 'changed', 'increased', and 'new'. There are also some awkward collocations and phrasing, such as 'The Castle which one disused in 2000' and 'the beach just near the castle has been changed to private from public'. Using more precise terminology like 'converted into', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'transformed' would demonstrate a better range. Additionally, ensure that your word choices are grammatically accurate within the context of the sentence to avoid confusion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'in two different time of ,today and in 2000 year', 'others are remain same', and 'The Castle which one disused'. The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting more complex constructions. You need to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and the proper formation of relative clauses. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic tense consistency and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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