Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30
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 maps illustrate how the layout of a Porth harbour changed between 2000 and today.
Overall, the areas underwent significant development. Several new facilities were added, while some existing buildings were removed or relocated. On the north-west side marina (Private yachts) was replaced with the south-west fishing boats. The number of passenger ferries had increases from 2 to 3. The new showers & toilets were built above the car park to the left of the west-south side.
whereas in the South-East corner the disused castle was replaced by a hotel. Even though, the Public beach had changed to private beach for the hotel residents.
The cafes & shops were built alongside the
Lifeboat in South side. A dock was located in Public beach in 2000, while today it is present with the passenger ferries.
The hotel road was linked with lifeboat road that went towards main road of the South-west corner. The public beach was remained same in 2000 and today.
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's transformation, such as the addition of the hotel and the relocation of boat facilities. However, the report lacks clarity in its spatial descriptions, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the changes. For instance, the phrase 'west-south side' is confusing, and the description of the road network is imprecise. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the two years could be more analytical. Some information is contradictory, such as the claim that the public beach remained the same while also noting it changed to a private beach. A more structured approach, grouping changes by area or type, would improve the overall coverage.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes misused; for example, 'whereas in the South-East corner' is used to start a sentence that does not follow logically from the previous one. The transition between describing the marina and the hotel is abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'the public beach was remained same', which creates confusion. To improve, you should use a wider range of linking words to connect your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'changed', 'added', and 'built' repeatedly. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'had increases' (should be 'increased') and 'the public beach was remained same' (should be 'remained the same'). While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and occasional inaccuracies in word form limit the score. Incorporating more specific terminology related to maps and urban development, such as 'transformed', 'converted', or 'extended', would enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('had increases'), passive voice errors ('was remained'), and missing articles or prepositions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of ampersands (&) instead of 'and', which is inappropriate for formal writing. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past and present states would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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