Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18
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)
This maps shows how porth harbour changed between 2000 and today.
Overall, the area underwent significant changes, with several new facilities being added such as marina(private yachts), and open new cafes & shops
or hotel, while some existing features remained unchanged such as car park, lifebot, showers & toilets.
In the year 2000, car park or showers & toilets in upper west side connect with main road. And in today they create new road which is connect with main road in south-west side. In addition, they develop area for new showers & toilets. in old map they have marina near car park in upper side and fishing boats is near also car park but in south side. Moreover in today map they exchange their both place.
Lifeboat area, passenger ferries or dock these area are remained unchanged from 2000. One path is connect lifeboat or main road but in new map the path also connect hotel in east-south side. Near the life boat they develop cafes & shops. And they remove castle in today or create hotel. In last public beach is converted into private beach for the hotel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour, such as the addition of the hotel and the relocation of the marina and fishing boats. However, the description is sometimes confusing, particularly regarding the road layout and the specific locations of facilities. While the overview identifies significant changes, some details are under-developed or inaccurately described, such as the claim that the castle was removed to create a hotel, which is not clearly supported by the visual evidence. To improve, ensure that spatial relationships are described with greater precision and that the summary focuses on the most significant trends rather than listing every minor detail.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'in today map' or 'in old map'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, making it difficult to follow the comparison between the two time periods. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the movement of the marina and fishing boats. To reach a higher band, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences flow more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'in today map' and 'exchange their both place'. While the student attempts to use specific terms like 'marina', 'passenger ferries', and 'lifeboat', the overall range is limited. There are also errors in word choice that occasionally impede the clarity of the description. To improve, focus on using more precise vocabulary for describing changes, such as 'relocated', 'converted', 'expanded', or 'demolished', and avoid repeating the same sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses (e.g., 'they create new road', 'these area are remained') and article usage. Prepositional errors are also common, which affects the accuracy of the spatial descriptions. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent use of past tense for the 2000 data, and correct article usage when referring to specific locations.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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