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 information provided in the given maps compares the alternation of Porth Harbour before 25-years ago in 2000, and the current view of the same porth.
Overall, it is quite evident from the maps that about 60% of the area has consumed by sea, because the porth is located near to a public beach. Meanwhile, the infrastructure contains multiple buildings and rough area.
In 2000, It is clear that Porth Harbour has a main road at west, and at the south-west corner a link road is isolated from the main road to access the Lifeboat at the center of the map. In the south-east a hexagon shape is seen which is a Castle for disused, just left side to it a public beach is located. On the flip side, a Passenger ferries is placed near to a Dock, and on the top of the map another public beach is seen. Looking to the west side there was three rectangular shape is seen, which were for Showers & toilets, Car park, and a marina for private yachts. Further Just down side to it another car park and fishing boats is located.
In the current Porth Harbour, a Castle which was located at the south-east corner has been replaced by Hotel. Furthermore, near to a Lifeboat new cafes and shops is added, as well as near to new hotel, the public beach is updated by private one, mean only hotel user can use it now. In stark contrast, the rest of things are remain stable, and show now change.
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 maps, such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the addition of new facilities. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; the claim that '60% of the area has been consumed by sea' is not supported by the visual evidence, which shows a change in land use rather than land loss. Furthermore, some descriptions are vague, such as 'rough area', and the report lacks a clear, comparative summary of the overall transformation. While all parts of the task are addressed, the lack of precision in interpreting the visual data limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from 2000 to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or awkward, such as 'On the flip side' and 'Looking to the west side'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the location of features, which makes the spatial description difficult to follow. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal flow between sentences is frequently disrupted by grammatical errors and unnatural phrasing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'alternation' instead of 'alteration' or 'evolution', and 'consumed by sea' which is factually incorrect based on the map. Phrases like 'rest of things are remain stable' show a limited ability to use collocations effectively. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there was three rectangular shape is seen' (subject-verb agreement and pluralisation errors) and 'a Castle for disused' (incorrect preposition and word form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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