Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-21
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 given maps illustrate a harbour in 2000 and how it look nowadays
It can be elucidated from the illustration that in 2000, main road was connected with only one car park. However, today main road has been connected with two car parks and showers and toilets has been introduced near main road. Furthermore, place of marina and fishing boats has been exchanged with each other.
Moving towards the remaining information which states that new dock has been introduced in northern side. Additionally, new cafes and shops has been published in front of road. Moreover, public beach in southern side has been converted into private beach and castle also has been converted into hotel
Overall, it can be clearly seen that several places has been introduced on porth harbour such as cafes and shops and some places has been exchanged with each other. Most noticeable change show in southern side
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 maps, including the addition of facilities and the relocation of the marina and fishing boats. However, the overview is somewhat weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends. While the student identifies key changes, some descriptions are slightly inaccurate or lack precision, such as stating that the castle was converted into a hotel, which is a reasonable interpretation, but the overall report could benefit from a more analytical approach to the spatial changes. The response meets the minimum length requirement and addresses all parts of the prompt, though the development of ideas is somewhat mechanical.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'Additionally' and 'Moreover'. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the road and parking to the marina, and finally to the southern side. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the transition between sentences could be smoother to improve the flow. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels a bit like a list of observations rather than a cohesive summary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are some awkward word choices, such as 'elucidated' (which is slightly formal/unnatural in this context) and 'published' (which is incorrect for describing the construction of shops). The student uses basic descriptive language like 'exchanged' and 'converted'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to map descriptions, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'replaced'. The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it does not demonstrate a flexible or sophisticated command of language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'showers and toilets has been introduced', 'cafes and shops has been published', 'several places has been introduced'). These errors are frequent and noticeable throughout the text. While the student attempts some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these agreement issues. The punctuation is generally functional, but the lack of consistent accuracy in basic grammar limits the score. To improve, the student must focus on matching plural subjects with plural verbs and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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