Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

So now we are comparing the structure of harbour with its 2000 and its present condition. And in the 2000 in the west side there was showers and toilets and car parking but now they are remain same. But in 2000 there was marina and fishing boats but now it is converted into same as in the past. But in the north side there was public beach, dock and passenger ferries and now it remains same as in the past. In the south side there was only lifeboat and road but now along the lifeboat side a newly build cafe and shops also can be seen. And in the south side there was only castle but now castle turned into the hotel which change the look of harbour but the private beach is remain as same as it was in the 2000 year. As we can almost whole arrangement or the structure of the harbour has been changed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the changes between 2000 and the present. However, it fails to provide a clear overview or summary of the main trends, which is a requirement for Task 1. The description is repetitive and lacks precision; for instance, stating that features 'remain same' or 'converted into same as in the past' is inaccurate and confusing. The report lacks a logical selection of features, focusing on listing items rather than highlighting significant changes or comparisons. To improve, you should group information by area or type of change and ensure the summary clearly identifies the most notable transformations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single, dense paragraph, which lacks the necessary structure for a clear report. There is a lack of logical progression; the text jumps between different areas of the harbour without a clear plan. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and repetitive way, with almost every sentence starting with 'But' or 'And'. This makes the reading experience disjointed. To improve, you should use clear paragraphing (e.g., an introduction, a body paragraph for changes, and a concluding summary) and use a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'remain same', 'change the look', and 'newly build' are used repeatedly, which restricts the range of expression. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'newly build' instead of 'newly built' and 'private beach is remain as same'. The vocabulary is not sufficiently varied to describe the spatial changes or the nature of the developments effectively. You should aim to use more precise verbs and adjectives to describe urban development, such as 'transformed', 'renovated', 'expanded', or 'constructed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'in the 2000' (should be 'in 2000'), 'they are remain same' (should be 'they remain the same'), and 'along the lifeboat side' (which is unclear). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors and the lack of complex sentence structures limit the score. Focusing on correct verb tenses and avoiding run-on sentences would significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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