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 plans below show a city name Harbour in 2000 and the look of how it seen today.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is clearly seen that the many things are replaced and some are introduced. For instance, case is displaced by hotel.

After analysing the Harbour in 2000, it is shown that in northwest there is showers and toilets beside car park and in right side of it there is a Marina (private yachts) and in North the single dock is locate beside public beach, the road is attached straight to the lifeboat from main road. Then, in the in southeast the disused Castile was their beside a public beach.

Additional to it ,how it seemed now, it is obvious that the dock is doubled beside the passenger ferries. Fishing boats and the place marina is exchanged their location. The disused Castile is replaced by hotel beside their private beach. Alongside the lifeboat the cafés and shops are built. In the southwest, the showers and toilets are built.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the harbour in 2000 and the present day, identifying key changes such as the expansion of the dock and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel. However, the report is somewhat superficial. The description of locations is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'in right side of it'), and the summary lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the transformation. While the main features are identified, the lack of precise spatial language and the somewhat disjointed reporting of changes prevent a higher score. The response addresses the task requirements but lacks the analytical depth expected for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are often mechanical or missing, such as the abrupt shift from the 2000 description to the current layout. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial progression. While the overall arrangement is coherent enough to be understood, the lack of varied linking words and the repetitive structure of the sentences limit the effectiveness of the progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'case is displaced' (likely referring to the castle) and 'how it seen today'. The student relies on simple descriptors and struggles with accurate collocations related to map descriptions. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there are noticeable errors in word formation and spelling (e.g., 'Castile' instead of 'castle') that occasionally distract the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but these are frequently marred by grammatical errors. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('was their beside'), subject-verb agreement ('the single dock is locate'), and awkward sentence construction ('the look of how it seen today'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to demonstrate a lack of control over complex grammatical forms, keeping the score in the lower range.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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