Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-05

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 two maps shows a harbour in 200 and how its looks currently.

Overall, it can be seen that the porth harbour underwent significant transformation, with thr additon of new facilities. such as hotel, cafes and shops, and another new fresh shower and toilets in the recent layout of the porth harbour.

In 2000, porth harbour had a shower & toilets, which reflicated in the current layout of harbour with two in number. Marin( private yachts) was replace by fishing boats, meanwhile it transform to the south of harbour, Car parks were remained the same for both maps, while dock is being convert into two in number in the recent map. In contrast, a new cafes and shops is built at the south side of the harbour along with lifeboat and opposite the road, Subsequently, Castle is totatlly change into hotel, which located in the southeast side of the plane. Main road is also remained the same at western side and also the road come from main road which going through harbour is satuated on the similar position. Moreover,public beach and passenger were also seen on the on the same position in recent layout of harbour.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response partially addresses the task by attempting to summarise the main changes between the two maps of Porth Harbour in 2000 and today. While an overview is attempted at the beginning, it is somewhat brief and contains inaccuracies. The selection of features is limited, and some details are under-developed or inaccurately described. For instance, the student states that 'Marin( private yachts) was replace by fishing boats, meanwhile it transform to the south of harbour', which struggles to clearly convey the relocation and swapping of the marina and fishing boats areas. Furthermore, several descriptions lack clarity, and important comparisons between the two time periods are not fully extended. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to provide a more comprehensive overview and ensure all key spatial changes and transformations are reported with greater clarity and precision.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response lacks a clear overall progression and logical organisation. The text is poorly paragraphed, crammed into a very limited structure where multiple distinct spatial changes are lumped together into a single, dense block of text, making it difficult to follow the development of ideas. While some basic cohesive devices and transition words are attempted, such as 'meanwhile', 'In contrast', 'Subsequently', and 'Moreover', their usage is often mechanical, inaccurate, or confusingly applied. Reference words are sometimes unclear, and the lack of proper paragraph breaks between the introduction, body details, and overview severely hinders the flow of information. To improve, the writer should structure the essay into logical paragraphs—such as a clear introduction with an overview, followed by separate body paragraphs grouping related geographical areas—and use cohesive ties more naturally and accurately.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to map descriptions, such as 'transformation', 'relocated' (implied), and 'satuated', but these attempts are frequently marred by word choice, word form, and spelling errors. Examples of lexical slips include 'reflicated', 'totatlly change', 'plane' instead of plan, and awkward phrasing like 'another new fresh shower and toilets'. Spelling mistakes and inaccurate word formations occur noticeably throughout the text, which occasionally causes confusion for the reader. To achieve a higher band, the writer must expand their range of vocabulary, use precise terms for spatial changes (e.g., 'relocated', 'converted', 'demolished'), and pay closer attention to accurate word formation and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic subject-verb patterns. Attempts at more complex structures are frequently faulty, leading to frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and agreement. Examples of grammatical errors include tense inconsistencies ('The two maps shows', 'how its looks'), missing or incorrect articles ('a shower & toilets', 'at the south side'), and awkward prepositional usage ('on the same position in recent layout'). Additionally, pluralisation errors are present, such as 'a new cafes and shops is built'. These frequent errors require the reader to decode the meaning and can cause difficulty. To improve, the writer needs to work on sentence variety, master basic subject-verb agreement and article use, and eliminate persistent errors in verb forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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