Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-07

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 given maps compares the structure of a harbour in 2000 and in present time.

Overall, discuse castle converted into a hotel, whereas, public beach into hotel's private beach as well an other dock introduced with pre existing. Additionally, cafe and shops also present now.

Comence from, the main road there were couple of car parks one on the main road, on north side of this parking shower and toilets were constructed and next to them private yatchs were seen but nowadys fishing boats replaced it. The entrance of other car park was at adjecent road along with a section for fishing boat seen, However, now this car park entrace is at the main road with a new section of showers and toilets an the private yatch area next to it. Additionally, on east side of it cafes, shops and lifeboat areas are constructed. The disuses castle replaced by hotel with it's own private beach.

Furthermore, on north side single dock demolished to construct two docks. Public beach remains same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important changes, including the disused castle becoming a hotel, the southern beach becoming private, and cafés and shops being added. You also note that the north-eastern public beach remains. However, some key changes are unclear or inaccurately described: the dock was not replaced by two docks; an additional jetty was added, with two boats shown. The marina and fishing-boat areas also exchanged locations, but your account of these changes is difficult to follow. The overview mentions selected developments but does not clearly summarise the broader redevelopment of harbour facilities. To strengthen the response, state the main changes accurately, then compare the northern and southern areas with clear location details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an opening, an overview, and a body paragraph, and it attempts to guide the reader with phrases such as “Overall,” “Additionally,” and “Furthermore.” However, the progression within the body is difficult to follow: several locations and changes are combined in long sentences, and references such as “this parking,” “it,” and “other car park” do not always make the intended feature clear. Some linking words are also used awkwardly, particularly “However” in the middle of the car-park description. Organise the details by area—for example, northern facilities first, then the southern harbour and beach—and use shorter sentences with clear references to each feature.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “harbour,” “car parks,” “fishing boats,” “lifeboat,” and “private beach,” which helps communicate the topic. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the description harder to understand, such as “discuse,” “Comence,” “yatchs,” “adjecent,” and “disuses.” Some phrases are also unnatural, including “an other dock introduced with pre existing” and “the entrance of other car park.” Use precise terms for changes and locations, such as “an additional jetty was added” and “the marina was relocated,” and check spelling carefully. This would make the account clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast between the earlier and current layouts. However, errors are frequent, and some sentence structures make relationships between features difficult to interpret. For example, “The given maps compares” has subject–verb disagreement, while “Overall, discuse castle converted into a hotel” lacks a clear grammatical structure. Tense and article use are also inconsistent, as in “were constructed” for a feature shown on a map and “an other dock introduced.” Punctuation and sentence boundaries need attention, particularly where “However” joins clauses. Practise accurate present and past passive forms, such as “The castle was replaced by a hotel,” and build each comparison as a complete sentence.

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