Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25
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 set of diagram illustrates past and current development of a Porth harbour.
It can be observed that in 2000, there was a main road in the west side. In the north side there was a public beach and docks. Showers, toilets and a car park were constructed in the north-west side. Marina which was also called private yachts were built in the north-west side. A car park which was connected with another road lead to lifeboat in the south side. There was a another public beach and castle were available in the south-east side.
It can be seen that, nowadays, marina has been converted to fishing boats. Additional showers and toilets have been added in the west side. Both car park have been attached with the main road. Additional cafes and shops have been constructed in the south side. A hotel has been built instead of castle and connected with road.
Overall, although there was a limited facilities are available in the past, more amenities are added to Porth harbour such as fishing boats, hotel,showers, toilets, cafes and shops.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour in both 2000 and the present day. You have successfully identified key changes, such as the conversion of the marina to fishing boats and the addition of new amenities. However, the report lacks a clear overview that synthesises the most significant trends, such as the overall expansion of commercial and tourist facilities. While you mention some changes, the description of locations is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'north-west side' is used for both the car park and the marina, which is confusing). To improve, ensure your overview highlights the primary transformation of the area rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the two time periods, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'It can be seen that', 'It can be observed that'). Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as 'Both car park have been attached', where the plural 'both' does not align with the singular noun. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent referencing would enhance the flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes effectively. You use relevant terms like 'converted', 'amenities', and 'constructed'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'limited facilities are available' (should be 'were available') and 'connected with road' (should be 'connected to the road'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptive language. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial changes and development, such as 'transformed', 'replaced', or 'extended'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Both car park have been', 'there was a another public beach and castle were available') and article usage errors ('a main road in the west side'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to impact the overall accuracy. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and article usage will help improve your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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