Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-29
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)
The given map illustrates the structure of harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
In 2000, there was a main road on the West side of the harbour city. On the North West side of the city just cross the main road there were car park area, Showers and toilets for both men and women and there are also Marina (Private yachts), While on the south west side of the corner there were also a car parking area and fishing boats have also been there. There was a small road connected with main road to sea and there was a lifeboat facility available on the starting point of the sea. Public beach also constructed just opposite side of the lifeboat and there are also castle just beside the public beach. Passenger ferries was located at the centre of the sea and dock area just behind it. There was also public beach present on the north side of the harbour city.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to provide a comprehensive overview of the changes. You have described the 2000 map in detail but have almost entirely neglected the 'today' aspect of the prompt, failing to report the main features of the current harbour or make necessary comparisons. A successful response must highlight the transformation—such as the removal of the lifeboat facility or the expansion of the marina—rather than just listing features of the initial state. The lack of an overview and the failure to address the 'today' component significantly limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks logical paragraphing, consisting of a single block of text. While there is a basic attempt to sequence information spatially (e.g., 'On the North West side', 'While on the south west side'), the progression is repetitive and mechanical. The lack of a clear introduction and a distinct overview paragraph makes the information difficult to follow. Cohesive devices are limited and often used in a repetitive manner, which hinders the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is functional but basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple descriptors like 'there was' or 'there are'. There is little attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to urban planning or geographical change (e.g., 'redeveloped', 'expanded', 'demolished', 'transformed'). Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'at the starting point of the sea' instead of 'at the harbour entrance'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology to describe the features and the changes observed.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'there are also Marina', 'Passenger ferries was located') and article usage (e.g., 'on the North West side of the city just cross the main road'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited use of complex sentences. 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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