Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-14

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 maps illustrate the changes that took place in a harbour in 2000 and how it appears today.

Overall, the area underwent the considerable development. Several new facilities were constructed, while old porth harbour feature was converted into new port harbpor. The area consiquently became more residential. In first the showers and toilets are on same place as in 2000 but the marina was converted into fishing boats in the north-west. Similarly the sceond car park is located at the same place in the south-west with addition of showers and toiltes, in addition fishing boat is converted into marina in the south-west. Furthermore the north-west and south-west buildings are linked with main road. In contrast the public beach in the north-east are on same place as in 2000 also two passenger ferries are shifted into three passenger ferries with enhacment into two dock. Consequently, when we move toward south-east the castle (discused) shifted into hotel also public beach converted into private beach to use for the hotel, that is linked with road. In addition the cafe and shop were construted with the life boat as it showen in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important changes, including the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the replacement of the castle by a hotel, and the change from a public to a hotel beach. These details address the task, but the overview is unclear: “the area consequently became more residential” is not a precise summary of the harbour’s main transformation. Some comparisons are also inaccurate or confusing. For example, the maps show two passenger ferries in 2000 and do not establish that these became three; the dock gains an additional jetty and has two boats berthed. The north-west and south-west facilities are not described as being linked by the main road. To strengthen the response, give a clear overview of the main changes, then report the locations and changes accurately, distinguishing additions from relocations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an opening and attempts to group changes using “Overall,” “Similarly,” “Furthermore,” and “In contrast,” so there is some organisation. However, most of the information is packed into one long paragraph, and the sequence shifts between areas without a clear route through the map. Several linking expressions do not clarify the relationship between ideas: “In first” is unclear, while “Consequently” does not logically introduce the hotel and beach changes. References such as “that” in “that is linked with road” are also difficult to follow. Use separate overview and detail paragraphs, organise the details by location or by type of change, and use simpler, more precise transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt task-relevant vocabulary such as “facilities,” “converted,” “shifted,” and “constructed,” and you use some location terms, including “north-east” and “south-west.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the description difficult to interpret. “More residential” does not accurately describe the harbour’s development, and “enhacment into two dock” is not a clear way to describe the added jetty. Spelling errors such as “consquently,” “discused,” “toiltes,” and “construted” are noticeable, while “port harbpor” appears to be an unsuccessful phrase. Aim for accurate map vocabulary and check spelling; prefer precise terms such as “relocated,” “replaced,” and “an additional jetty.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while” and “when,” but control is inconsistent and errors sometimes make relationships unclear. For example, “the public beach in the north-east are on same place” has subject–verb agreement and article problems; “the area underwent the considerable development” also uses an unnecessary article. In “the marina was converted into fishing boats,” the passive construction does not clearly express the intended change. Some sentences run together, particularly the long sequence beginning “In first,” which needs clearer sentence boundaries and punctuation. Practise accurate articles, agreement, and passive forms, and build longer sentences around one clear comparison at a time.

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