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 plan illustrates a harbour between 2000 and today. Its name is porth harbour. The harbour consists of beaches, roads, ferries and boats. The ocean from the east surrounds it.
In the previous design of 2000, the main road is on the western side. In the first right there is car park next to it the showers and toilets are build. In front of the car park the Marina for private yachts is mentioned in the ocean. In the east side public beach is present. A dock is build near beach to its west side.
The passenger ferries are in the middle of the ocean. The waves of the ocean are waving toward the southern. In the second right from main road, it leads to the life boat. A public beach is also mentioned in the south side and a castle is build on the right to it.
In the today harbour porth design, the main road is on the place. By contrast, more areas are added to it which is on the first left for same parking and showers. By contrast, a new fishing boat site is build. The changes are substantially occur in the third left to road near the earlier site of lifeboat including cafes and shops.
The beach become private of southern side near it a hotel site also build. Somehow, other places are at same areas.
To conclude, the previous design is less crucial for attracting people while in the new design new sites and facilities are added which make it invaluable for the residents.
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 describe the changes shown in the two maps of Porth Harbour between 2000 and today. However, the response lacks a clear, cohesive overall summary of the main trends. Many spatial descriptions are confusing or inaccurate, such as mentioning 'the first right' or 'the third left', which makes it difficult to follow the locations. While some major features are noted—such as the addition of cafés and shops, the conversion of the castle to a hotel, and the shifting of the marina and fishing boats—important comparative details are missed or underdeveloped. This performance aligns best with Band 5, as the task is addressed only partially and ideas remain underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression and overall flow are weak. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively, such as the frequent incorrect use of 'By contrast' to link unrelated clauses. Referencing between sentences is often unclear, relying on vague pronouns or spatial markers like 'the second right from main road'. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal logical development is hindered by awkward transitions. This level of organisation corresponds to Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, frequently relying on everyday words ('ocean', 'place', 'sites') rather than precise geographical or architectural terms suitable for Academic Task 1. There are notable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'the waves of the ocean are waving toward the southern' and 'the beach become private of southern side'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success. This sits firmly at Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent errors in tense usage, subject-verb agreement, and word formation, including 'showers and toilets are build', 'a dock is build', and 'changes are substantially occur'. Punctuation is also problematic in places. These frequent grammatical errors cause some difficulty for the reader, matching the Band 5 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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