Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-25
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)
In this diagram it shows the comparison of porth harbour in 2000 and of now. I'll be discussing the mian portion of porth harbour and the differences from 2000 and of now.
At porth harbour, there were fishing boats for the fishermans and people having fond of fishing, there was dock where passenger boats were present which were used for ferries as well as for amusment of the visitors, another lifeboat was also there in case of any emergency, whether any visitor, passenger or fisherman or anyone from the staff if ever fell into sea, the lifeboat is there to save him. There was a private portion where Marina's private yachts were parked, beyond that toilets and showers facility was also there. It also provide car parking there at different spots. There are two public beaches overthere, one in northmost part and one in the southernmost part. Behind the southern beach there was castle which was not in use.
As of now, that castle is turned into a hotel and the beach besides it is turned into a private beach for hotel. The cafe and shops are opened beside the lifeboat spot. The fishing boats and Marina private yachts areas were exchanged. Another dock added for the passenger boats.
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 summarise the main features of the maps comparing Porth Harbour in 2000 and today. However, the candidate spends a significant portion of the text providing conversational filler and speculation, such as 'the lifeboat is there to save him' and mentioning the amusement of visitors, which is not present in the visual data. While some key changes are noted—such as the castle turning into a hotel, the swapping of the marina and fishing boats, and the addition of a café and shops—the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the overall spatial transformation. Furthermore, the organisation of details is somewhat disjointed, affecting the completeness of the response. This performance aligns best with Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay lacks clear overall progression and suffers from poor paragraphing. The introduction includes colloquial conversational language ('I'll be discussing the mian portion') rather than a formal academic overview. Body paragraphs are poorly structured, grouping unrelated features together without clear logical sequencing. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes repetitive. While referencing is generally understandable, the lack of a structured paragraph plan and mechanical transitions make the progression difficult to follow. This corresponds to a Band 5.0 for Coherence and Cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with several spelling errors such as 'mian', 'fishermans', 'amusment', and 'overthere'. The candidate attempts some topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., 'marina', 'private yachts', 'fishing boats', 'passenger boats'), but overall range is limited. Word choice is frequently imprecise, and colloquial phrases like 'people having fond of fishing' are unsuitable for an academic task. Communication is occasionally strained by inaccurate lexical choices and spelling mistakes. This level matches the Band 5.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and loose coordination (e.g., run-on structures like 'there was dock where passenger boats were present which were used for ferries as well as for amusment...'). Grammatical errors are frequent, including missing articles ('there was dock', 'castle is turned into hotel'), tense inconsistencies, and awkward phrasing ('whether any visitor, passenger or fisherman...'). These errors cause some difficulty for the reader, placing the grammar firmly at a Band 5.0 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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