Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-27
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 two plans of the Porth Harbour illustrate the changes and development from 2000.
Overall, the port has been gone through many developments like introducing one more Dock for ferries and Showers & toilets. Connectivity of road has been increased. Additionally, beach and castle are converted into Private hotel.
In 2000, the Porth Harbour had one Public beach on north-east of Harbour near the Dock for Passenger ferries and another small public beach on south side of Harbour just beside of the Castle(disused). Furthermore, there is Marina (private yachts) on west of Harbour and Fishing boats just south of it. Showers & toilet facility was available at west of Marina and one Car park near that which connects the Main road at the west of Harbour. There is another connecting road from main road which connects second bigger car park and Lifeboat near Castle.
Today, the Porth Harbour has been developed with facilities like Cafes & shops near Lifeboat and by introducing second Dock and Showers & toilets. Location of Fishing boats and Marina has been interchanged. Second car park now can be accessed form main road. Castle has been converted into private hotel as well as beach behind that also now use for hotel purpose instead of public. Road connectivity is extended till the hotel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the two plans, including the addition of new facilities like the second dock, the conversion of the castle, and the changes to road connectivity. The overview effectively highlights the most significant transformations. However, the description of the 2000 layout is slightly cluttered, and some details, such as the specific locations of the showers and toilets, could be more precisely integrated. While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two time periods could be more fluidly linked to demonstrate a clearer understanding of the overall development process. Overall, it provides a clear summary of the changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the past and present states. The progression of information is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, with repetitive sentence structures and transitions like 'Furthermore' and 'Additionally'. Referencing is occasionally slightly ambiguous, such as in the phrase 'near that which connects the Main road', which makes the spatial relationships harder to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the harbour's features. The student uses relevant terminology such as 'marina', 'yachts', 'lifeboat', and 'connectivity'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'port has been gone through' (should be 'has gone through') and 'beach... also now use for hotel purpose' (should be 'is used for hotel purposes'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. More precise descriptive language would improve the quality of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the' is often missing before 'harbour' or 'main road') and verb forms ('has been gone through', 'beach... now use'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in capitalization and spacing. The student attempts to use complex structures, but these are often marred by small errors that, while not impeding communication, occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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