Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05

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 above images illustrates the changes that have occurred at Porth Harbour since the 2000s.

In the southern aspect of the harbour which previously housed and unused castle has now been converted to a hotel. Lying adjacent to the hotel is a conveniently located private beach, accessible only to the residents of the hotel. Along the road connecting the hotel to the main road are the recently established cafes and shops. Along the main road lies the parking lots along with restrooms. The most significant change in the westside of the beach is that the areas designated for private yachts and fishing boats have been switched. At the northern front of the harbour lies the docking area and the public beach.

The visitors can either use passenger ferries that depart from northern part of the beach to reach the hotel or alternately, the route for the same is via the road connecting the main road directly to the hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour, such as the conversion of the castle to a hotel and the relocation of the boat areas. However, the response lacks a clear overview, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. An overview should summarise the most significant trends rather than just listing details. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly imprecise; for instance, you mention 'the westside of the beach' when the map shows the harbour area. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary paragraph that highlights the overall transformation of the site from a functional harbour to a more tourist-oriented destination.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organised, moving from the southern part of the harbour to the west and north. Paragraphing is present, though the second paragraph is quite short. You use some cohesive devices like 'alternately' and 'adjacent to', which helps the flow. However, the connection between sentences could be smoother. The transition between the description of the hotel and the parking area feels a bit abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus to guide the reader through the information more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'converted', 'adjacent', and 'designated'. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'northern front of the harbour' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'the route for the same is via'. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more specific terminology related to maps and spatial descriptions, such as 'situated', 'redeveloped', or 'transformed', to enhance the professional tone of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'The above images illustrates' (subject-verb agreement) and 'housed and unused castle' (which should be 'an unused castle'). Additionally, 'the parking lots' should be singular if referring to the area generally. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher band in this criterion.

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

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