Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-19
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 illustrate depicts a Harbour in 2000 and its current configuration
Overall, the harbour has underone significatn redevelopment, with several new facilities constructed, existing amenities expanded or replaced and some features relocated to different positions, while certain elements remain unchanged.
Regarding new contruction and modifications, the doch was built on the north side of the harbour with the previous dock between the publich beach and fishing boats, shower and toilets was built on the southwest side between two car parks. A cafe and shops was also built in the south side near the lifeboat. The castle in the southeast corner was replaced by Hotel. the fishing boats and marina are swapped.
The terms of unchanged features, the publich beach in the north side, one dock and a passenger ferries also on the north remain unchanged. several features like private beach on the south, lifeboat, and a road in the center, a shower and toilets, car park on the northwest remaind intact. the main road on the west side and a car park on the southwest were not changed.
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 addresses the main features of the harbour plans, identifying several key changes such as the swapped positions of the fishing boats and marina, the addition of a hotel replacing the disused castle, and new facilities like cafés and shops. An overview is present, and some comparisons are made. However, there are notable inaccuracies in reporting specific details, such as stating that a 'doch was built on the north side' when the dock existed in 2000, and confusing certain amenities. Furthermore, the description of unchanged features contains some minor spatial confusion. Overall, it covers the task adequately to achieve Band 5.5, but lacks the precision required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into a four-paragraph structure, including an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for modifications and unchanged features. There is a basic attempt at logical progression. However, cohesive devices are weak, repetitive, and sometimes misused (e.g., 'Regarding new contruction and modifications', 'The terms of unchanged features'). Paragraphing is visible, but internal sentence-level cohesion is frequently disrupted by poor punctuation and run-on sentences, such as missing capitalisation and periods between clauses. These organizational flaws place it firmly in Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate to convey basic ideas about maps, utilising terms like 'redevelopment', 'constructed', 'relocated', and 'amenities'. However, there are numerous spelling errors ('significatn', 'contruction', 'publich') and lexical inaccuracies, such as using 'doch' instead of dock and 'remaind' instead of remained. The range of vocabulary is limited, and attempts at less common words result in frequent non-systematic errors that occasionally cause strain for the reader, fitting the Band 5.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar and punctuation is poor. There are frequent errors in verb forms and agreement, such as 'The plans illustrate depicts' and 'a cafe and shops was also built'. Punctuation is largely neglected, with missing periods at the end of sentences, comma splices, and a lack of capitalisation at the start of new sentences (e.g., 'the fishing boats', 'the main road'). Because errors are frequent and recurrent across basic and complex structures, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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