Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22
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 5.0)
The given map illustrats the plans showing a harbour in 2000 and how it looks nowadays.
Overall, as compared to both maps in 2000 , that was in the south part there was a castle and nowadays that place change the castled and build a hotel. And also some other things are changed.
Firstly, In the north side in 2000 that time only one showers & toilets were built and as compare to today there are two showers & toilets built. In addition fishing boats and marina private yachts swapped their location.
Moreover, in the south part of this map there was only a lifeboat but today that place also has cafes and shops and also a private beach for the hotel. That are huge chances in last 26 years. and the major changed was Dock in 2000 that time only one dock was their but now their are two dock .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour, such as the addition of the hotel, the relocation of facilities, and the expansion of the docks. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, and the description is somewhat disjointed. While the key features are identified, the comparison between the two time periods is often simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping information more logically—for example, by categorizing changes into infrastructure, facilities, and leisure areas—and ensure the overview highlights the most striking transformations rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'and also' and 'that place'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus rather than jumping between different areas of the map.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'some other things are changed' and 'that place' are imprecise and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. There are also spelling errors, such as 'illustrats' and 'castled'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, it lacks the range and precision needed to describe visual data effectively. You should aim to use more specific terminology related to maps and urban development, such as 'transformed', 'expanded', 'relocated', and 'converted'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('there are two dock'), tense consistency ('that place change'), and sentence structure ('that was in the south part there was a castle'). The range of structures is limited, relying mostly on simple sentences. To improve, you should work on using more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, which are essential for describing changes in a formal report. Careful proofreading is also necessary to correct basic errors in pluralization and verb forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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