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 given map chart represents the information about a harbour during 2000 and it is looking nowadays.
Looking from an overall, it can be clearly seen that there are very much changes now as compared to past in which showers and toilets, cafes and shops, and many more newly added.
At the first glance, as can be seen from the chart that now washrooms and car is in similar direction as like before. Marina replaced by fishing boats by present year. Moreover, cafes and shops are newly built which was empty before. Afterthat, public beach lifeboat passenger ferries are in same places.
Moving further, the size of dock is increased now. Apart from that, castles were replaced by hotel and near public beach added the area for the hotel beach. At the place of fishing boats, now added marina. Car parking which was on main road now it is on another road.
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 plans, identifying key changes such as the addition of cafes, shops, and the hotel. However, the report is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are mentioned, the description of the changes is occasionally inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that 'marina replaced by fishing boats' when the visual evidence suggests the opposite. The summary lacks a cohesive synthesis of the transformation, focusing more on listing individual changes rather than reporting on the overall development of the site. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the most significant trends, such as the shift from a functional fishing harbour to a more commercial and tourist-oriented facility.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often mechanical and sometimes confusing. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally misused, such as 'Afterthat' and 'Looking from an overall'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes described. For instance, the transition between the description of the dock and the hotel is abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, with sentences that logically build upon one another to create a smooth progression of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. There is frequent repetition of basic verbs like 'added' and 'replaced'. Some word choices are unnatural or inaccurate, such as 'very much changes' instead of 'significant changes' or 'in similar direction' instead of 'in the same location'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or topic-specific terminology related to urban planning or geographical changes. Focusing on collocations and more descriptive adjectives would significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('at the place of fishing boats'), incorrect verb tenses ('it is looking nowadays'), and awkward phrasing ('as like before'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from being considered fluent. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, before attempting more complex grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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