Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The two plans give information about a harbour in 2000 and how it looks now.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that the major change is the demolition of the disused castle and it currently replaced by the hotel. In addition, some facilities are offered in the new harbour.
In 2000, the main facilities for the visitors like showers, toilets and car parking were established at the north beside the main road.
At south, additional path is connected the main road with lifeboat and the disused castle with a public beach were existed there too .
furthermore, passenger ferries and dock were approximately located at the center of the harbour.
Currently, additional facilities are added such as showers & toilets and cafe & shops. another dock is added too beside the oldest one.
a new hotel is erected at south, replacing the disused castle and the public beach is converted to be a private for the hotel inhabitants solely. Consequently, a new path is added to connect the hotel to the main road .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student covers all major parts of the task by identifying key changes between the 2000 and current layout of Porth Harbour. An overall trend is provided in the introduction, mentioning the demolition of the disused castle and its replacement by a hotel, alongside new facilities. The student successfully highlights the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the addition of new amenities like cafés and shops, and the conversion of the public beach into a private one. However, some descriptions are slightly imprecise in their locational referencing (e.g., stating the passenger ferries and dock were at the center). Despite minor omissions, the response presents a clear overview and covers the main features adequately, satisfying the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs: an introduction with an overview, a body paragraph describing the 2000 layout, and a final body paragraph detailing current changes. Progression is generally clear, guiding the reader from past to present. However, cohesive devices are sometimes basic or mechanically deployed (e.g., 'In 2000', 'Currently', 'Consequently'). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods, but referencing is occasionally loose, such as the pronoun use and lowercase beginnings in sentences like 'furthermore' and 'a new hotel'. Overall, the logical structure meets the criteria for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and spatial changes, such as 'demolition', 'erected', 'converted', and 'facilities'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'currently replaced by the hotel' instead of 'now replaced by a hotel', and 'private for the hotel inhabitants solely' rather than 'private beach exclusively for hotel guests'. Spelling is generally correct, but capitalization rules are neglected at the start of several sentences. The lexical range is sufficient for the task but contains errors that prevent it from reaching a higher band, placing it firmly at Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including passive voice constructions ('are offered', 'are added', 'is erected'). However, grammatical errors are frequent throughout the text, such as tense inconsistencies and passive voice awkwardness ('it currently replaced by the hotel', 'were existed there too', 'additional path is connected'). Punctuation and capitalization errors also occur at the beginning of sentences and clauses (e.g., 'At south', 'furthermore', 'a new hotel'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they lower the proportion of error-free sentences, making Band 5.5 the most fitting descriptor.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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