Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-15

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 number of steps which has taken for the renovation of porth harbour from 2000 till date.

Overall, the main road is on the west and beach on the eastern side, while the public beaches on the north and the south of the harbour. The whole area undervent several redevelopments which include some replacements and demolish in the given timeframe, however the western side of harbour have experienced significant changes.

In 2000, the upper western side was occupied by showers, toilets and the car park, while the lower western side was just having the car park, however, more showers and toilets have been constructed on the lower side along the car park. And, Marine private yachts which was previously on the upper left western side is converted into the fishing boats region and the fishing boats which was primarily on the lower left western side, hase been now replaced by the marine private yachts.

In addition, on the northern side, one more dock has been added on the public beach for the passenger ferries. Moreover, the abandoned castle on the right lower southern ridge has been replaced by a hotel, and besides the castle, the public beach is modified into a private beach and a hotel. Along the road, on the south, the cafes and shops have been constructed with the lifeboat.

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 addition of a hotel, and the conversion of the southern beach to private use. The overview also recognises that the harbour underwent redevelopment. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the dock was not added on the public beach; it already existed and gained an additional jetty and a second berthed boat. The overview’s claim that beaches are on both the north and south is also imprecise, since the southern beach becomes private. The cafés and shops are beside the lifeboat station, not simply “along the road, on the south.” More precise coverage of these features, alongside the changes to the northern beach and facilities, would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. This gives the reader a general route through the information, and phrases such as “In 2000” and “In addition” help signal progression. However, the organisation is not consistently clear. The third paragraph combines several western-side changes in a long sentence, while the final paragraph moves between the northern dock, the southern hotel and the cafés without a clear spatial sequence. Some linking words, especially repeated “however” and “Moreover,” feel mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately. Grouping changes by location and using clearer references to the northern and southern areas would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of map-related vocabulary, including “replacements,” “redevelopments,” “converted,” and “replaced,” and the main changes are generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “number of steps,” “renovation,” “demolish,” and “on the public beach.” “Marine private yachts” is also not the correct label; “marina for private yachts” is more natural and precise. Spelling errors such as “undervent” and “hase” further reduce control. Aim for accurate, conventional language for describing plans, such as “facilities were added,” “the marina was relocated,” and “the castle was replaced by a hotel.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses joined with “while” and “however,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors in sentence structure and grammatical forms are noticeable. For example, “illustrate number of steps which has taken” lacks an article and has an incorrect verb construction; “the western side of harbour have experienced” has an agreement error; and “which was previously … is converted” shifts awkwardly between tenses. Some sentences are also overloaded with clauses, making relationships harder to follow. Use the past simple for the 2000 plan and the present simple or present perfect consistently for today, and check articles, subject–verb agreement, and sentence boundaries.

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