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 map demonstrate the illustrations of Port Harbour in 2000 and redesigned it at present.
Overall, some redevelopments have happened. The car parking, Lifeboat, Passenger ferries, dock and Public beach are the same; However, some amenities such as hotel, cafes and shops, and also replacing the locations of fishing boats and marina is happened today.
In the past, car parking were joined with main road. There were two small public beach one was on the north and other was on the south, also a castle was built there and lifeboats were there. There were some fishing boats in the ocean also passenger ferries where they travel from one place to another.
Now, many redevelopments have been made. Firstly, the location of fishing boats and marina are switched with each other. They changed castle with the hotel for tourists. They demolished cafe that lied near the marina.
At the end, they wrecked one showers and toilets and also converted on public beach into private beach that is only for hotel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour plans, identifying key changes such as the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, and the addition of the hotel. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention some redevelopments, the summary is somewhat list-like rather than synthesizing the information. The description of the changes is generally accurate, but some details are slightly imprecise, such as stating the 'car parking' is the same when the layout clearly shows it has been expanded. To reach a higher band, ensure you group information logically and provide a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'At the end' to introduce the final paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally logical, moving from the past to the present, but the transition between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when describing the locations of the beaches and amenities. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus would enhance the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic verbs like 'changed', 'switched', and 'wrecked', which are not always the most appropriate choices for describing architectural or urban development. For example, 'wrecked' is usually used for accidents or destruction, whereas 'demolished' or 'removed' would be more suitable for planned construction. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'redesigned it at present'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to maps and development, such as 'expanded', 'converted', 'relocated', or 'transformed'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('car parking were joined', 'is happened today'), incorrect tense usage, and missing articles ('converted on public beach'). The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying on 'There were' or 'There are'. To achieve a higher score, focus on reducing these basic errors and attempt to use a wider range of complex structures, such as passive voice or relative clauses, with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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