Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-09

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 given pictures illustrate the chnages undergone in Porth Harbour from 2000,till now.It can be seen that few things remained same and many things are added in it now.There are few similarities and also some major upgradations.

It can see a Castle(disused) in the south east corner of harbour in first picture from 2000,which is now replaced with hotel and the public beach on its lower left side is coverted into private beach of hotel.Cafes and shops can be seen in the south of Harbour just beside the road in bottom and on left of lifeboat.There is just replacement of places of Fishing boats and Marina(private).However,both car parks remained unchanged but showers and toilets are now added in the middle of both car parks while the old showers and toiets are at the same place as seen in picture from 2000.And the change in north side is just an other dock for the boat.

Overall,there are some similarities and also many changes in the Porth Harbour which can be seen clearly in the both given pictuers.And these upgradations look worthy and giving a smooth look to the Harbour.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important changes, including the replacement of the disused castle by a hotel, the conversion of the southern public beach into a private hotel beach, and the exchange of the marina and fishing-boat areas. These details show a relevant understanding of the plans. However, some descriptions are unclear or inaccurate: the cafés and shops are beside the road and lifeboat station, but calling them “in the south of Harbour” is imprecise; the added showers and toilets are not “in the middle of both car parks.” The northern change is also more than “just an other dock”: the dock has an additional jetty and two boats. A clearer overview of the main pattern of redevelopment, with more precise location comparisons, would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable overall structure: it introduces the maps, describes several changes, and ends with a summary. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the progression is not consistently clear. The second paragraph moves from the castle and beach to cafés, then the marina and fishing boats, and then the car parks and dock without a clear spatial or thematic order. Linking phrases such as “However” and “Overall” are used, but some connections are awkward, and “both given pictures” does not clearly refer to the two time periods. Grouping changes by location or by additions and relocations, and using clearer references to the 2000 and present-day plans, would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “replaced,” “private beach,” “car parks,” and “lifeboat,” so the reader can understand the general subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing plans. “Upgradations” is evaluative rather than a neutral description, while “a smooth look” does not report a map feature. Phrases such as “replacement of places” and “an other dock” also lack precision. Spelling errors, including “chnages,” “coverted,” and “toiets,” are noticeable and can distract from the information. Aim for accurate, neutral terms such as “relocated,” “added,” and “converted,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, for example, the sentence beginning “It can see a Castle…” includes several linked changes. However, control is inconsistent, and some sentence patterns are difficult to follow. “It can see a Castle” needs a clear subject, such as “A castle can be seen,” while “There are few similarities” does not fit naturally with the intended meaning. Tense and sentence boundaries also need attention: the maps compare a past date with the present, but the response shifts between forms, and several ideas are joined into long sentences with limited punctuation. Practise forming clear past-versus-present comparisons and separating related details into complete sentences.

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