Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-19
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 blueprint of the map depicts Port Harbour in 2000 and Port Harbour in 2026 to show comparison between the facilities.
During these years, Port Harbour was modernized and expanded to cater the growing needs of people using it. The facilities that are provided now in comparison to 2000 allow increased accessibility, satisfaction, and comfort.
Main road is connected to two car parks to manage more people with two building of showers and toilets in contrast to one. Marina and Fishing boats area exchanged to facilitate another dock near fishing boat instead of one. Passenger ferries and the beach right next to it is still accessible to public.
Public beach near the castle area is turned into private beach because the castle was redeveloped as a hotel and beach was acquired by the hotel. Cafes and shops are now also opened near the lifeboat to attract audience to Port Harbour. Main Road is connected to the hotel directly but the car park initially attached to the road that lead to hotel is now connected to main road.
In conclusion, today's Port Harbour plan represents the changes needed overtime to facilitate different activities and to attract more people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour, such as the expansion of facilities, the change in beach access, and the addition of commercial areas. You provide a clear overview and make relevant comparisons between the two time periods. However, the response could be improved by being more precise with spatial descriptions. For instance, stating 'Main road is connected to two car parks' is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key changes are described with greater clarity and that the overview highlights the most significant trends, such as the shift from a public-focused area to a more commercialized, private-hotel-oriented space.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized logically, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast to' and 'In conclusion', to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, in the sentence 'Main Road is connected to the hotel directly but the car park initially attached to the road that lead to hotel is now connected to main road', the phrasing is convoluted and makes the relationship between the features difficult to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modernized', 'accessibility', 'redeveloped', and 'facilitate'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'blueprint of the map' (a map is not a blueprint) and 'attract audience' (usually 'attract visitors' or 'customers' in this context). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Attempting to use more specific collocations related to urban planning or map description would strengthen this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as missing articles ('Main road is connected', 'two building of showers', 'right next to it is still accessible'). Additionally, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'road that lead to hotel'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic article usage and pluralization would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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