Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-26
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 map shows the evolution and development of Porth Harbour from 2000 to what it is today.
Overall, the new plan shows the addition of new facilities such as shops, cafes and also a new hotel aswell as the rearrangment and expansion of some already existing establistments.
The current day plan of Porth Harbour includes the renovation of the old disused castle into a hotel and the transformation of the public beach into the private beach for the hotel residents.
Marina private yachts at the North of the map and the fishing boats just opposite to it have switched places in the current plan and now a new addition of cafe and shops have been added right next to marina private yachts. Extra bathrooms and showers have been added next to the car park near the current Marina location aswell as the addition of the new docks next to the old ones.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student attempts to address the task by highlighting key changes between the year 2000 and the present day at Porth Harbour. An overall summary is provided, mentioning major transformations such as the castle becoming a hotel and the swapping of the marina and fishing boats. However, some key spatial relationships and features are slightly under-developed or imprecise. For instance, the exact locations of the added amenities could be linked more clearly to the surrounding infrastructure. Nonetheless, the core information required by the prompt is reported adequately, earning a solid band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organized into short paragraphs, beginning with a brief introduction, an overview, and subsequent body paragraphs detailing specific spatial changes. While logical sequencing is attempted, paragraphing is fragmented, with several single-sentence paragraphs that disrupt the flow. Cohesive devices are used sparingly (e.g., 'Overall', 'and now', 'aswell as'), and some referencing lacks clarity. Progression is somewhat disjointed rather than smoothly guided from one area of the map to another, placing this section in band 5.5.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for describing simple map changes, including terms like 'renovation', 'transformation', and 'relocation'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('rearrangment', 'establistments', 'aswell') and awkward phrasing such as 'current day plan'. Less common lexical items are attempted with mixed success, and repetition of basic terms like 'added' limits the lexical range. Communication is not impeded, but vocabulary control aligns best with a band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and compound-complex sentences (e.g., 'Marina private yachts at the North of the map and the fishing boats just opposite to it have switched places...'). There are several grammatical inaccuracies and punctuation slips, including missing articles (e.g., 'at the North'), run-on phrasing, and compound spelling errors ('aswell as'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout, supporting a band 6.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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