Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17

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 how the porth harbour changed between 2000 and today

Overall, Several changes have made in the southeast corner including introducing the recreational centre such as a hotel, cafes and shops while northern side remain same for public usage. However, the western corner has undergone through several diversification to accomodate more people with facilities.

In 1950, in the southeast side, there was a unused castle which has converted into hotel along with turning the public beach into private one to introduce recreational facilities for the tourist. Likewise, new cafes and shops have been introduced in close proximity to the lifeboat which is preserved. Although, the northern corner remain largely unchanged and its retain for the convenience of public facilities such as the public beach and the passenger ferries which also a leisure centre.

On the other hand, the western corner has gone though some expantion such developing a new showers and toilets facility to accomodate more people which was missing in 1950 whereas the fishing boats and the marina (private yachts) relocated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major changes, including the castle becoming a hotel, the southern beach becoming private, cafés and shops being added, and the marina and fishing-boat areas switching locations. These are relevant features and give the response a clear overall focus. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the maps show 2000, not 1950, and the northern area did not remain entirely unchanged because fishing boats replaced the marina in the northern basin and the dock gained an additional jetty. The overview also describes the western changes as “diversification” without clearly stating the added facilities and relocated uses. To strengthen the summary, report the main changes precisely and distinguish what remained unchanged from what was altered.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an overview to descriptions of the south-east, north and west. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison, and linking expressions such as “Likewise” and “On the other hand” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the progression is not always clear: the second paragraph combines changes in the south-east with northern features, while the final paragraph introduces the western area without a clear comparison of its two periods. Some references, such as “which also a leisure centre,” are difficult to connect to the intended feature. Organise the details by area or by major change, and use clear references to the 2000 and present-day plans.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “relocated,” “private,” “public,” “facilities,” and “in close proximity,” which helps convey changes in land use. There is also an attempt to use less common terms such as “diversification.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this task: “recreational centre” does not describe the hotel and cafés, and “diversification” is vague when referring to changes in facilities. Spelling errors such as “expantion” and “accomodate” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise map language and familiar collocations, for example “the marina was moved” or “additional facilities were added,” rather than abstract or unsuitable wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “Although” and “which,” and the main meaning is generally recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction occur across the response. Examples include “Several changes have made,” “the northern side remain,” and “a unused castle which has converted”; these need forms such as “Several changes have been made,” “the northern side remains,” and “an unused castle that was converted.” The sentence beginning “Although” is also incomplete as written. Work on complete clause structure and consistent past-versus-present descriptions, then check subject–verb agreement and articles.

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