Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-21
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 maps show how port harbour has changed over the past 26 years. There has been many substantial changes over the past two decades, as illustrated in the images.
The main road beings in the south before diversifying into a smaller road in the south east, which further diversifies into a small road in the south west leading to the car park. In the south east rests an disused castle along the public beach. In the north, there is dock to park passenger ferries, whereas in the north west is the marina private yatch along with two seperate areas designated to showers & toilets and the car park.
In 2026, there are certain noticeable changes that have taken place in port harbour, in the south east there has been a hotel constructed in place of the castle, alonside turing the beach private for access to hotel guest only. There has been added facilites of showers & toilets along with car parks in the north west.
In conclusion, the port harbour has underwent significant changes over a course of more than quarter of a century later.
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 summarise the changes shown in the maps of Porth Harbour, but the response suffers from significant inaccuracies and omissions regarding the visual data. For example, the student claims that the main road 'beings in the south', whereas the maps clearly show it running vertically along the western side. Furthermore, the description of the two maps conflates the timeline, mixing elements of 2000 and 2026 awkwardly. While there is an attempt to identify major changes such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the addition of facilities, key features like the shifting locations of the marina and fishing boats are missed. Overall, the response addresses the task only partially and lacks a clear, comprehensive overview, aligning with Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into four paragraphs, following a logical layout for an introductory statement, body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. However, progression within the paragraphs is weak. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'whereas in the north west is the marina private yatch along with...' and 'alonside turing the beach private'. Reference words and logical links between sentences do not always maintain clear progression. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal organisation of ideas lacks smooth transitions, leading to a choppy reading experience. This performance fits the Band 5 descriptor for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates a limited range of vocabulary, with noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text (e.g., 'beings' instead of 'begins', 'disused' used correctly but with an incorrect article 'an disused', 'yatch', 'seperate', 'alonside turing', 'facilites', 'has underwent'). There are attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'substantial' and 'diversifying', but these are often used inaccurately in context. The errors cause occasional strain for the reader and reflect a vocabulary range that is minimally adequate for the task, corresponding to Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There is a mix of simple and attempted complex structures, but control is weak. Grammatical errors are frequent and pervasive throughout the response, including subject-verb agreement issues ('There has been many substantial changes'), incorrect prepositions, and malformed verb phrases ('the port harbour has underwent'). Punctuation is basic, and run-on structures or awkward phrasing appear frequently (e.g., 'in the south east there has been a hotel constructed...'). Because errors occur frequently and occasionally impede clear comprehension, this falls into the Band 5 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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