Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-20
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 map illustrate the changes to porth harbour between 2000 and the present day.''
Overall, the area saw signifcant development, with several new facilites, including a public beach amd passenger ferries while some existing areas, such as the marina and fishing area, remained unchanged throughout the period.
In 2000, a small fishing harbour was located can be south of the town. by the present day, this had been replaced a large marina with facilites for tourist boats.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is severely under-length, containing only 77 words compared to the required minimum of 150 words. Because of this major omission, the task cannot be fully addressed. The overview statement contains factual inaccuracies based on the visual data, incorrectly claiming that some areas such as the marina and fishing area 'remained unchanged throughout the period', when in reality the marina and fishing boat locations were swapped and numerous significant facilities were added or replaced. Furthermore, the body paragraph breaks off mid-sentence and fails to adequately summarise the main features or make the necessary comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The writing is divided into short paragraphs, including a single-sentence paragraph and an incomplete concluding sentence. While basic cohesive transitions like 'In 2000' and 'by the present day' are attempted, the overall progression is disrupted by the abrupt termination of the text. Because the response is very short, cohesive devices are limited and paragraphing cannot be fully evaluated for adequacy and effective management across a complete essay structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student attempts some task-appropriate vocabulary such as 'development', 'facilities', and 'harbour'. However, there are noticeable spelling and typographical errors, including 'signifcant' and 'facilites'. Additionally, the word choice in the overview and body paragraph is imprecise, describing areas as 'unchanged' when the visual data clearly shows relocation and replacement. The lexical range is limited and minimally adequate for the fragment produced.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting mostly of simple sentences and one attempted complex structure that contains a punctuation and agreement error ('The map illustrate...'). There is also a missing verb fragment in the final sentence ('this had been replaced a large marina'). Punctuation errors are present, such as missing capitalisation at the start of sentences and erratic spacing around periods. Frequent basic errors reduce clarity.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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