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 diagram shows the porth harbour in 2000 and the changings appeare in today .
In the 2000 main road was passing in the west and the short road was in the east where passengers took boats.
In the passenger ferries were a private yachts in the west and the fishing boats. Showers and toilets and car parking behind the yachts in the west. in the north public beach. and in the south castle and a short public beach.
Today porth harbour have some changes two docks in the north of passengers , addition of shower and toilets and a hotel is on the place of castle. Furthermore the private beach is for hotel in the south. On the short road cafes and shops are added.
In the conclusion today modern porth harbour have many facilities from the earlier like cafes , hotels , dock, and the showers and toilets.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying key changes between 2000 and the present. However, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from a more industrial/fishing-focused harbour to a more commercial and tourist-oriented one. While the main features are mentioned, the description is somewhat fragmented and lacks precise spatial referencing (e.g., 'in the north of passengers' is unclear). To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most striking changes rather than just listing them, and provide a more structured comparison between the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the past to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the 2000 layout and the current layout is abrupt. Some sentences are disjointed, such as 'In the north public beach. and in the south castle and a short public beach.' The lack of proper sentence structure and linking words makes the flow feel choppy. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') would enhance the logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate to describe the features of the harbour, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. Words like 'things', 'place', and 'added' are used frequently. There are also errors in word choice and form, such as 'changings' instead of 'changes' and 'appeare' instead of 'appeared'. The range is limited, and the student struggles to use more sophisticated terminology to describe urban development or geographical features. Expanding the range of descriptive adjectives and nouns related to infrastructure would help elevate the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage ('the 2000', 'the castle'), subject-verb agreement ('porth harbour have'), and sentence fragments ('In the north public beach.'). The range of structures is limited, relying mostly on simple sentences. Complex structures are attempted but often contain errors, such as 'In the conclusion today modern porth harbour have many facilities from the earlier like cafes'. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, correct verb tenses, and consistent use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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