Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-18
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 diagrams compares the changes of main features in the Porth habour in 2000 and the present.
Overall, except few key features, other things are remain intact. Few location changes happened and new places built in present compared to 2000 including disused castle developed as a hotel and private beach became a part of the hotel.
In 2000, Near to the main road, two car parks were available and next to northern car park showers and toilets were located. Marina took place beside the car park and assenger ferries were anchored near to the beach. The fishing boats area was near to the sourthern end car park and the road from the car park bend to the east road that road was directed to the lifeboat and eastern coner castle was located and private beach near the castle.
compared to 2000, today number of passenger ferries are increased up to three. Cafes and shops are constructed near to the lifeboat. Additional showers and toilets have built near to the northern car park and fishing boats and Marina completely shifted the places where they were before.
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 student attempts to address the task by comparing the two maps of Porth Harbour in 2000 and the present. An overview is attempted, noting that some features remained intact while others changed, such as the disused castle becoming a hotel and the relocation of the marina and fishing boats. However, the response contains several inaccuracies and omissions regarding the visual data. For example, the student states that the number of passenger ferries increased to three, whereas the maps indicate two boats berthed at the northern dock. Additionally, the description of spatial relationships is occasionally confusing or incomplete, and some key developments, such as the addition of cafés and shops, are only briefly mentioned. Consequently, the task is addressed somewhat partially, corresponding to a Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is divided into four short paragraphs, representing an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the past and present layouts. However, progression and cohesion are somewhat impaired by mechanical transitions and awkward phrasing, such as starting paragraphs with 'In 2000, Near to the main road...' and 'compared to 2000, today number of...'. Cohesive devices are minimal, and referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to follow the spatial arrangement of features. Paragraphing is present but under-utilized for logical grouping, as the body paragraphs tend to list individual features without smooth connections. This overall organization fits the Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student uses a basic and repetitive vocabulary range suitable for describing simple map features (e.g., 'car parks', 'showers and toilets', 'fishing boats'). There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'habour' instead of 'harbour', 'other things are remain intact', 'Marina took place', and 'assenger ferries'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success ('developed as a hotel', 'completely shifted the places'). These frequent lexical errors and spelling mistakes cause some distraction for the reader, aligning the response with Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writing displays a limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences and basic compound constructions. Attempts at complex sentences often result in grammatical errors, such as 'The diagrams compares' (subject-verb agreement error), 'except few key features, other things are remain intact', and 'today number of passenger ferries are increased'. Punctuation and capitalization are also inconsistent, with lowercase letters starting sentences in places. Frequent errors in grammar and tense usage are noticeable throughout the response, though they do not completely obscure the intended meaning, placing it firmly at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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