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 following illustration shows expected map plan of a seaport in 2000 and the current time.
Overall, initially the map of Porth Harbour went under some prominent changes of old time showed the prominent features of some buildings but those are single in numbers but in the recent period of time there are some major changes has been done specially made more toilets, cafes and hotel were built.
In 2000 the Port Harbour has limited infrastructures such as Showers & toilets and Car park area had been seen on the North side of the map with Marina private yachts close to the sea where passenger ferries were used to travel. The fishing boat was aslo situated near the sea and a car park was aslo added near that. there was a Main road was present in the West of the map and a linking road was crossing till the waters .In the left corner of the map a castle wich was disused aslo was present there. and a beach for public also.
In Recent time, Porth Harbour experienced more of Showers & toilets with car parking twice as before were built while Fishing boats and Marinaprivate yachts changed and swithced their positions. The Doc adn the Piblic beach remained still. Cafe & Shops opened beside the lofeboat section. The castle turned into a Hotel and its nearby beach converted to private beach from public and reserved only for the Hotel.
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 response attempts to cover the main features of the maps, noting key developments such as the addition of cafés and shops, the conversion of the disused castle into a hotel, and the swapping of positions between the fishing boats and the private marina. However, the overview is extremely weak and poorly expressed, failing to clearly encapsulate the overarching transformation of the harbour. Furthermore, there are some inaccuracies and vague descriptions in reporting specific details, such as stating that 'the Doc adn the Piblic beach remained still' rather than clearly describing the spatial layout changes. While the candidate addresses the task, the lack of clarity and underdeveloped overview place this firmly in Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs separating the introduction, overview, 2000 layout, and current layout. However, the overall progression is disjointed due to very weak cohesive devices and confusing sentence structures. Phrases like 'Overall, initially the map of Porth Harbour went under some prominent changes' demonstrate confusion in logical flow and temporal markers. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is frequently faulty or mechanical, and referencing is sometimes unclear, which hampers readability. This performance aligns with Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with noticeable errors in word choice and spelling that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. Examples include 'marinaprivate', 'Doc', 'Piblic', and 'lofeboat'. The candidate attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'infrastructure' and 'prominent', but misuse and typos limit precision. The lexical range is adequate for basic communication but restricted, fitting the criteria for a Band 5 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, and attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty. There are persistent errors in tense consistency, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation throughout the response (e.g., 'there are some major changes has been done', 'The Port Harbour has limited infrastructures... had been seen', and missing capitalisation/periods). These frequent errors cause strain and 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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