Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-08
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 depicts the maps of Porth Harbour in 2000 and how its looks at present.
Showers & toilets and Car park area remained unchanged as they situated at the north west side of the map. However, a new showers & toilets section has created next to car park which was connected with the conjusted road now it is conneced with Main road. Futhermore, Marina (Private yachts) and Fishing boats area have been replaced to eachother. A single dock section has been converted into two docks.
A road was connected with the Main road which is still the same. However, Lifeboat section was located at the far end side of the road that is still exist in a current map adjecent to lifeboat Cafes & shops have been made. (Disused) Castle was located at the south east corner which has been demolished and transformed into Hotel and a little path has also been created for hotel which is connecting with road. Public Beach has been converted into a private beach property.
Overall, There have been significant changes in the port harbour. Some areas remained constant and some was newly developed.
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 covers the main features of the harbour, including the changes to the docks, the demolition of the castle, and the addition of the hotel. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the prompt asks for comparisons, the student's attempt to describe the movement of the marina and fishing boats is confusingly phrased ('replaced to eachother'). Additionally, some details are inaccurate or poorly explained, such as the description of the road network. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on grouping information more logically and ensuring that the comparison between the two time periods is precise and easy to follow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps with the overall structure. However, the flow of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive or misused, such as the awkward transition 'However, a new showers & toilets section has created'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track the changes across the map. The concluding paragraph is very brief and does not effectively synthesize the information provided in the body paragraphs. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring a logical progression between sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'conjusted road' (likely meant 'congested') and 'replaced to eachother'. The student relies on basic descriptive language and struggles to use more sophisticated terminology related to map interpretation, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'transformed'. Spelling errors, such as 'conneced' and 'adjecent', are also present. To improve, the student should focus on learning specific collocations used for describing changes in maps and proofreading for basic spelling accuracy.
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 'how its looks at present', 'has created' (should be passive 'has been created'), and 'some was newly developed' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and sentence boundaries. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice for describing changes would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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