Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 pictures heremakes a comparison of Porth Harbour in 2000 with today giving details about the changed features.

Some of the features of Porth Harbour have not shown any variation during the years ,although a developement have been seen with the passage of time, including the Public beach in North and the toilets alongwith newly built toilets in between the car parks.However, the car parks are still linked with the main road.The life boat is still situated in the same place but with an addition of cafe and shops to the west of it.The castle has been transformed to hotel with a private beach accosiated to it. The passenger ferries are present as before.Talking about the dock which has been increased in number.The marina and fishing boats places have been interchanged but present as before. A road has been made to the hotel linking it to the main road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the response identifies the main features of the harbour, such as the castle transformation and the addition of the cafe and shops, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. The description is somewhat list-like, and the failure to reach the minimum length means the task is not fully addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a clear, concise overview of the major trends and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for full development of the information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is written as a single paragraph, which hinders the logical flow and structure expected in an IELTS task. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the information, the lack of paragraphing makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However' and 'Although', but they are often used mechanically or incorrectly. The transition between describing different areas of the harbour is abrupt. To improve, use clear paragraphing—typically an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs—and use a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences and ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'developement', 'accosiated', and 'heremakes'. The phrasing is often repetitive, relying on simple structures like 'present as before'. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to describing maps and changes, such as 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and ensure that spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The pictures heremakes' (subject-verb agreement), 'a developement have been seen' (subject-verb agreement), and 'the dock which has been increased in number' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. To improve, focus on basic subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentence structures are grammatically sound. Proofreading for common errors like pluralization and verb tense consistency is essential.

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

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