Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07
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 provided maps illustrates the main changes that have take place in harbour from 2000 to the present day.
Overall, the area has undergone significant development, transforming from a largely area into an modern zone. Notably, several recreational and residential facilities have replaced previously open spaces. there have built extra shower and toilets facilities. Near the lifeboat constructed cafes and shops. public beach remain unchanged
To begin with, in the north-east of the area castle demolished and constructed new hotel, nearly beach owned by hotel. left side of lifeboat space there are built shops and cafes. The marina, which previously housed fishing boats, has been replaced by private yachts. Car park entrance changed and new entrance opened in main road. Front of the car park built new showers and toilets.
Turning to the next details, dock and boats places closed to fishing boats area. Constructed one more dock for passenger ferries.
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 maps, such as the replacement of the marina and the addition of new facilities. However, the overview is somewhat weak, as it lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. Some details are under-developed or unclear, such as the vague reference to 'largely area' and the confusing description of the car park entrance. While the key changes are identified, the reporting lacks the precision required for a higher band, as some descriptions of locations are imprecise, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes without constant reference to the original image.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or missing. For instance, the transition 'Turning to the next details' is slightly unnatural. There are also issues with referencing; phrases like 'left side of lifeboat space' are grammatically awkward and lack clear signposting. While the overall progression is logical, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive sentence structure hinder the flow of the response. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would significantly enhance the readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'largely area' and 'dock and boats places'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'built' and 'constructed' repeatedly. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and the presence of word-choice errors (e.g., 'nearly beach' instead of 'near the beach') limit the score. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'converted,' 'expanded,' or 'relocated.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with article usage (e.g., 'in harbour', 'in main road'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure (e.g., 'there have built extra shower'). The use of passive voice is attempted but often executed incorrectly, such as 'castle demolished' instead of 'the castle was demolished'. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often faulty. A focus on basic sentence construction, particularly ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, is necessary to improve accuracy and reduce the frequency of errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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