Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The figure charts illustrate a harbour in year 2000 and how it looks present.
Overall, the north and west side of the map shows major changes in present time which is showers and toilets, cafés and shops are added new one. Whereas, main road, private beach and public beach are remain same.
In 2000, there was one car park’s entrance from the main road however, it converts into two car park’s entrance. Besides that, showers and toilets is now two instead of one. Marina private yacht and fishing boat replace with fishing boat and marina private yacht respectively.
Beside, public beach there was one dock, dramatically change with two dock. Moreover, in recent time cafes and shops are added near the lifeboat. The south east corner was castle but now it replace with hotel and private beach that is only for hotel. The middle part of the chart is passenger ferries and public beach in north side are as it is.
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 harbour, including the additions of shops, cafes, and the hotel, as well as the modifications to the car park and docks. However, the overview is slightly confusing; stating that the 'north and west side' shows major changes is inaccurate, as the most significant developments (the hotel and private beach) occurred in the south-east. Furthermore, the description of the boat changes is unclear, and the report lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the overall transformation. While the key information is present, the lack of precision in locating features and the slightly disjointed reporting of changes prevent a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical or disjointed. For example, the transition 'Beside, public beach there was one dock, dramatically change with two dock' is grammatically awkward and lacks a clear cohesive link to the previous sentence. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes misused, such as 'Beside' instead of 'Besides' or 'In addition to'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial progression of the harbour's development. Improved use of linking words and clearer spatial signposting would enhance the logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is frequent repetition of basic verbs like 'added', 'replace', and 'remain'. Some word choices are inaccurate, such as 'in present time' instead of 'at present' or 'in the present day'. The phrase 'dramatically change' is used incorrectly as a verb phrase. While the student successfully identifies specific features like 'passenger ferries' and 'lifeboat', the overall lexical range is narrow, and the errors in collocation and word form occasionally hinder the clarity of the description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('showers and toilets is now two'), incorrect article usage ('the north and west side'), and tense inconsistencies ('are remain same' instead of 'remain the same'). Pluralisation errors are also present, such as 'two dock' instead of 'two docks'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical slips limits the score. To improve, the student should focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice for describing changes.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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