Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06
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 compares the layout of Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present-day respectively.
Overall, the plan illustrates some major changes such as dock, showers and toilents options having increased today as compared to 2000. On the south side of the plan, cafes and shops have opened followed by the private beach and hotel.
As comparing the plan from 2000 to today such as the north side of the plan, some features such as the public beach and passenger farries have not changed, but now it has 2 dock options. Marina private yachts have become Fishing boats.
On the south side, the Fishing boats changed into Marina and a new option of showers and toilents had been made. The small roads which follow the lifeboats, some cafe shops are now opened there as well which are not available in 2000. The public beach becomes private beach because the Castle now becomes a hotel. The main road on the west side of the plan had not changed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour, identifying key changes such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the addition of facilities like showers and toilets. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. The summary provided is somewhat disjointed and fails to synthesize the information effectively. While the main features are mentioned, the description of the changes is occasionally confusing, such as the contradictory statement regarding the public beach becoming private. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant trends—such as the shift from a functional fishing port to a more commercialized, tourist-oriented facility—rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression between ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the phrase 'As comparing the plan', which is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes described. For instance, the transition between the north and south sides of the harbour lacks smooth signposting. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'toilents' (spelling error) and 'passenger farries' (spelling error). The phrase 'dock options' is also imprecise. The student relies on basic terminology and struggles to use more sophisticated vocabulary to describe the changes in the harbour's layout. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to maps and urban development, such as 'redeveloped', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'converted', and ensure accurate spelling of key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The small roads which follow the lifeboats, some cafe shops are now opened there', which is a run-on sentence with awkward phrasing. There are also issues with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, such as 'the public beach becomes private beach' and 'the main road... had not changed'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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