Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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 diagrams illustrate the outlay of Porth harbour in year 2000 and how it is look at present days.

Overall, Porth harbour witnessed several considerable changes after 2000. Such as, another dock is build for ferries. Shower and toilets are constructed next to carpark, similarly cafes and shops next to lifeboat area.

At first glance, fishing boats and marina private yachts are switched with each other places. New car park is build near to showers and toilets connected to main road. On more dock is added at public beach area for more docking of ferry.

If take look at south side ho harbour. Cafes and shops are constructed next life boat area. Vacant castle is converted in a hotel. And turned public beach in private beach for hotel guests. Moreover, new road is get connected new hotel which is connected to all the way to main road for better transportation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour, such as the addition of the hotel, the new road, and the relocation of the fishing boats and yachts. However, the description is somewhat fragmented. While the overview identifies that changes occurred, it lacks a clear, analytical summary of the most significant transformations. Some details are slightly inaccurate, such as describing the castle as 'vacant' when the diagram implies it was a castle that has now been converted. To reach a higher band, ensure that all features are described with greater precision and that the overview highlights the most striking trends rather than just listing changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'At first glance' and 'If take look at'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the transition between the general overview and the specific details. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the changes in the harbour more naturally. The paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to group related features.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the changes described. However, there is a lack of precision and some awkward phrasing, such as 'outlay of Porth harbour' instead of 'layout' and 'is look at present days' instead of 'appears today'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs like 'build' and 'get connected'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and diagrams, such as 'converted into', 'relocated', 'extended', or 'demolished', and focus on correct collocations to avoid unnatural phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly regarding verb tenses and passive voice construction. For example, 'another dock is build' should be 'has been built', and 'new road is get connected' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with articles ('the' is frequently missing) and sentence structure, such as 'And turned public beach in private beach'. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent and distract from the quality of the writing. You should focus on mastering the passive voice for describing changes and ensuring subject-verb agreement.

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

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