Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-11
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 diagram below illustrates the harbour in 2000 and how it changes over 26 years
Overall, the porthole harbour undergone many changes on focus the disused castle and become a well known hotel with a private beach , fishing boats and private yachts seen to be replaceable each other.cafes and shop has been opened in porth harbours today which was not in early .
In today porth harbour with the open of hotel the docks has seen enormous whereas in 2000 report it seen one or two docks however the most interestingly there are cafes and shops have been launched .showers and toilets expands in the year of recent , marina used to locate in the left next to main road and in south west fishing boats were designed while in today porth harbour fishing boats are in north west corner and in south west part marine has been developed rather than that the main roads and public beaches seems constant to its location .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour, such as the transformation of the castle into a hotel and the addition of new facilities like shops and cafes. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, professional overview. While the main changes are identified, the reporting of specific locations is occasionally confusing, such as the reference to the marina's relocation. The summary of the changes is present, but the lack of precision in describing the spatial layout limits the effectiveness of the report. To improve, ensure that comparisons are made more clearly and that the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into two paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall' and 'In today', but they are often applied mechanically or incorrectly. The progression of information is sometimes difficult to follow, particularly when describing the movement of the marina and fishing boats. The lack of clear sentence boundaries and the repetitive structure of the sentences hinder the overall coherence. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one would significantly enhance the readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate, which occasionally impedes communication. Phrases like 'seen to be replaceable each other' and 'with the open of hotel' are non-standard and confusing. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'docks', 'marina', and 'harbour', but the misuse of basic collocations and word forms (e.g., 'expands' instead of 'expanded') suggests a restricted range. To reach a higher band, focus on learning accurate collocations related to describing maps and trends, and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect clarity. There are significant issues with verb tenses (e.g., 'the porthole harbour undergone', 'cafes and shop has been opened'), subject-verb agreement, and article usage. Sentence structures are often fragmented or run-on, lacking the complexity required for higher bands. While the meaning is generally discernable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar structures is a major concern. Focusing on mastering simple sentence structures and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past and present states would be a beneficial starting point for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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