Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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 map illustraes the changes to a harbour in 2000 and after changes its looks today.

Overall, the harbour had a traditional layout. In 2000, the main road enters into car park, with toilets on north and marina private yatchs on east side. There was a dock between passenger ferries area and a public park in northern east side. At the southern part there was a second car park area which was attached to the road and on the left there was fishing boats. The road was attached to a lifeboat area. On south east corner there was a castle with public beach.

By now, several significant changes had taken place .In the second car park there is a addition of shower and toilets. Fishing boats area is replaced with marina private yachts. and a addition of cafes and shops on the right side of marina. The castle is upgraded to a hotel with a private beach for the hotel.

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. However, the overview is quite brief and lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from a functional fishing harbour to a more commercial and tourist-oriented facility. While the key changes are mentioned, the description of the 2000 layout is somewhat cluttered and lacks a clear spatial progression. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the most striking transformations rather than just listing features, and ensure all comparisons are explicitly stated to better meet the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the past to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the 2000 layout and the current changes is abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'the road was attached to a lifeboat area', which lacks context regarding its location. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help create a smoother flow between sentences and ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected for a higher band. There are some spelling errors ('illustraes', 'yatchs') and awkward phrasing, such as 'after changes its looks today'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying on simple descriptors like 'attached to' or 'on the right side'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise terminology for describing maps and spatial relationships, such as 'situated to the north', 'underwent a transformation', or 'replaced by'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'had taken place' instead of 'have taken place'), missing articles ('a addition'), and punctuation errors, such as the misplaced period in 'taken place .In'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past versus present states will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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