Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16
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 plans in the image illusrates the structure of a Porth Harbour and it's changes between 2000 and today.
Overall, the harbour is a place of vacation that is located at sea. There were multiple beaches, pessenger ferries, dock, car parks, fishing boats etc in 2000. If we look it today, the struture of harbour remains same with minor changes. some places are moved from one spot to another while some new places have been added.
If we look at the right side of harbour, there is a public beach at the end, a dock to it's left side and a pessenger ferries in it's middle. On the other side, there is a castle which is disused, a life boat and a public beach but now, there is a lttle change, the castle has been replaced with Hotel, Public beach has been converted to private beach and cafe shop has been built on the left side of lifeboat.
In the left side of picture, there were two car parks and one showers and towels in 2000. But now, one more showers and toilets building has been added between car parks. The places of fishing boats and Marina have been replaced with eachother.
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 student attempts to address the task by comparing the two maps of Porth Harbour in 2000 and today. An overview is attempted, noting that the overall structure remains similar with some modifications, relocation of amenities, and new additions. However, the selection and reporting of main features are somewhat superficial and imprecise. For example, the writer mentions 'pessenger ferries, dock, car parks, fishing boats' as being in 2000, but struggles to systematically contrast the exact movements, such as the swapping of the marina and fishing boats or the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel. Some descriptions are vague, such as 'some places are moved from one spot to another'. While all parts of the prompt are touched upon, the development is limited and lacks precise spatial referencing, corresponding to a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into paragraphs, which helps establish a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on different areas of the maps. However, the logical progression is weak. The transitions between ideas feel abrupt, and cohesive devices are used rather simplistically (e.g., repeating 'If we look at...' and 'On the other side'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'a dock to it's left side and a pessenger ferries in it's middle'. Paragraphing is present, but grouping of information lacks cohesive unity. This performance aligns with the Band 5.0 descriptor for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected for an Academic Task 1. There are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'illusrates' (illustrates), 'it's' (its), 'pessenger' (passenger), 'struture' (structure), 'lttle' (little), and 'showers and towels' instead of 'showers and toilets'. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary ('relocated' is absent, substituted by 'moved from one spot to another'), but overall, the lexical range is limited, and errors like 'cafe shop' cause minor distraction, fitting a Band 5.0 rating.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student displays a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There are numerous grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues and missing articles ('a harbour', 'the harbour remains same', 'replaced with Hotel'). Run-on sentences and punctuation slips (e.g., unnecessary commas, incorrect apostrophe usage in 'it's') are frequent. Complex structures are often faulty or awkward (e.g., 'If we look it today...'). Because errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, this warrants a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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