Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The map chart displays the information about a Porth harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Overall, it can be seen that the showers & toilets, car park, dock and public beach remain same at the place, but some new things are built in the today harbour.

Firstly, in 2000 the main road was the west side, and near the main road is the car park. The showers & toilets is beside the car park but front of the car park is the marine (private yachts). The second car park near the fishing boats and straight on road is the lifeboat. The castle disused is situated on the southeast side.

Secondly, the showers & toilets, and lifeboat remain the same place, but new showers & toilets is built near the car park.

In today harbour change position of fishing boats and marina (private yachts) and cafes & shops is developed beside the lifeboat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main features of the harbour, such as the addition of cafes and shops and the relocation of the marina. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that some things remain the same, the report fails to effectively compare the two maps in a way that highlights the significant changes, such as the expansion of the marina or the development of the new facilities. The information is presented in a list-like fashion rather than a cohesive summary, which limits the development of the task. To improve, focus on grouping related changes together and providing a more comprehensive summary of the transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is often unclear. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'secondly' and 'firstly' without a logical flow between sentences. Referencing is occasionally confusing, for example, when you mention 'the today harbour' or 'the castle disused'. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively separate the overview from the detailed analysis. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as one for the original state and one for the developments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'new things', 'built', and 'place'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'the castle disused' (instead of 'the disused castle') and 'the today harbour' (instead of 'the harbour today'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive language related to maps and urban development, such as 'expanded', 'relocated', 'transformed', or 'converted'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the showers & toilets... remain same at the place' (missing 'the' and 'in'), 'front of the car park is the marine' (should be 'in front of'), and 'change position of fishing boats' (missing subject/verb agreement). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the control over articles and prepositions is inconsistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing locations on a map.

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

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