Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 plans below illustrate the examination of a harbour in 2000 and today.

Overall, there are only three major changes that have happened from 2000 and at present day. The development includes an increase in the number of dock, cafes, and showers.

Firstly, there are not much renovation occours fromm 2000 to this day and age. However, shops and cafes are crested at the south side just beside the road, where individuals can buy some coffee and also do some shopping. In addition to this, Port Harbour also provides a facility of showers and toilets that is located in the north-west corner at the back side of the car park. Secondly, where people can take a shower or do toilet.

Furthermore, there is also an expansion in the number of docks, and it will be able to park more boats. Another small change is that in 2000 the public beach located at south east corner was for the public, but now it is only available for hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify that the harbour has changed and mention the added cafés and shops, extra jetty capacity, and the hotel’s private beach, so some relevant features are selected. However, the overview is inaccurate: “only three major changes” understates the redevelopment, which also includes the marina and fishing boats switching locations and a hotel replacing the disused castle. The beach you describe as becoming private is the southern beach, not the public beach in the south-east; the north-eastern public beach remains. The showers and toilets are not simply a new facility in the north-west, as they are shown in both plans, with an additional block added near the marina. To improve, give a clear overview of the main transformations and describe locations and changes precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an opening, an attempted overview, and a body paragraph, and signposts such as “Firstly,” “However,” and “Furthermore” show an effort to organise information. However, the progression is difficult to follow: the overview claims three changes, while the body shifts between facilities without a clear comparison of 2000 and today. “Secondly” is left without a complete point, and “where people can take a shower or do toilet” repeats the previous idea rather than advancing the description. Group the changes into a logical sequence—for example, harbour facilities, then land use and beaches—and compare each feature across the two plans. Clear paragraphing and more accurate linking would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “harbour,” “public beach,” “cafes,” “showers and toilets,” and “docks,” which helps identify features. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or informal, sometimes making the meaning unclear. “Examination of a harbour” does not naturally describe a map, while “crested” appears to be an incorrect choice for facilities being added. “Do toilet” and “park more boats” are also unsuitable expressions for this report. Spelling errors such as “occours” and “fromm” further reduce accuracy. Build a more precise set of map-change verbs and facility terms, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including “Overall, there are only three major changes…” and a sentence beginning “In addition to this,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction: “there are not much renovation occours” has faulty agreement and verb form, while “the public beach located at south east corner was for the public” lacks a clear grammatical structure and article use. The fragment “Secondly, where people can take a shower…” is incomplete, and “from 2000 and at present day” uses an incorrect preposition pattern. Practise writing complete comparison sentences with consistent past and present forms, and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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

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