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 diagram illustrate the Porth harbour from 2000 till today.
Overall, there is a vast change in Harbour port in 2000 to 2026. Mainly, the difference shown in the southern part Hotel, private beach, cafe & shops and showers & toilets is introduced in 2026. The northern side a new dock is build for boat.
In 2000, the Harbour appeared relatively empty campared with today, whereas it looks much more crowded nowadays. Let's start with the southeast part castle which are disused that time is converted into Hotel nowadays. Previously, there was a public beach in the left-hand corner of the castle, but now a private hotel beach is been established there.
In 2026, in the south side cafes & shops is introduces in next to the Lifeboat. In addition, in 2002 western side, in the main road two crossing in there but nowadays there are three crossing from that road. In nowadays above the car parking showers & toilets is build. Lastly Fishing boats and Marina (private yachts) is switched in 2026 and in the northern side a new dock is been build for the boats.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the addition of new facilities like the dock and shops. However, the response lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that the harbour looks 'more crowded,' you could improve by grouping the changes more logically (e.g., commercial vs. infrastructure developments). Some details, such as the specific number of road crossings, are slightly confusingly described. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a more cohesive summary of the overall trends rather than listing individual changes in a fragmented manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'In 2026' or 'In nowadays.' The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where you jump between different locations (cafes, road crossings, showers, and fishing boats) without clear transitions. Improving the use of linking words like 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in contrast' would help create a smoother flow between your observations.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the main points, but it is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'is build' (should be 'built') and 'is introduced.' There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'switched' to describe the relocation of boats and 'in nowadays' which is non-standard. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to urban development, such as 'transformed,' 'redeveloped,' 'expanded,' or 'relocated,' and ensure you use the correct word forms consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('cafes & shops is introduces'), incorrect passive voice construction ('is been established,' 'is been build'), and missing articles. Your sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on mastering the passive voice (e.g., 'a new dock has been built') and ensure that your subject and verb agree in number. Proofreading for basic tense consistency would also significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.