Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-10
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 5.0)
The layout below illustrates the Porth harbor in 2000 and the other plans shows the new looks of today.
Overall, it is clear that the two layout below represents the different comparison between both plans.
In year 2000 the Porth horbour map shows the actual directions of many place of the town by locating the different features. In this plan there is a main road located in western part. Moving to the first right east turn we can find car park, showers and toilets. Next to that in the north east side there are dock, public beach and passenger ferries. In south side of this map informs some car park , fishing boats, roads, lifeboat and castle.
The new plan have not a huge change according to the previous layout. Which we can easily see the some difference between both .In this map there is the change of marina private yachts and café and shops near the second link road of this plan. At the end of this Link road there is a Hotel which has been constructed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to describe the changes between the two maps, but it fails to provide a clear overview or a coherent summary of the main features. The description of the 2000 layout is somewhat disjointed, and the comparison of the 'new' plan is underdeveloped. Several key features are mentioned in a list-like fashion rather than being integrated into a logical comparison. The response lacks a clear 'main features' summary, which is essential for Task 1. The information provided is often vague, such as 'many place of the town', and fails to highlight the significant developments like the conversion of the fishing area into a marina.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'Moving to the first right east turn' and 'At the end of this Link road'. The progression of ideas is difficult to follow because the spatial descriptions are confusing and lack clear reference points. The opening sentence is repetitive and does not effectively introduce the topic. Overall, the flow of information is hindered by poor sentence construction and a lack of logical transitions between the features described.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'map', 'plan', 'layout', and 'place'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'the other plans shows the new looks of today' and 'the actual directions of many place'. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe geographical features or changes (e.g., 'the new plan have not a huge change'). To improve, the student needs to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'replaced', 'extended', or 'constructed'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the two layout below represents', 'the new plan have not'), article usage (e.g., 'in western part', 'in north east side'), and sentence structure. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some errors in word order. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
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.