Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-21

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 given map illustrates different places in porth harbour from 2000 to 2026. As in both maps we have multiples changes over time.

Overall,we have different sections in the given map , some places are for public entertainment and severals are for tourists, who can come and stay for long time. There are several points which are specific for visitors only.

In 2000, we have showers and toilets on the western side, marina (private yachts) are also on this side.But, gradually in today's construction it has changed , we have dock on the southern side ,but it has also changed in 2026 and have made a different aesthetic views for spectators .

In todays map, we have kind of different and new style of design , as in 2000 construction, we have castle on the last of map, but now in new map it has change over time with beautiful and attractive hotels, for new visitors, along with that, new cafes and shops were also built for new spectators to come and to buy new items. Passengers ferries has been remained the same, no new design over there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify that the harbour has changed and mention the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, as well as the addition of cafés and shops. However, the response only partially reports the map’s main features, and several details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, the marina was not on the western side in 2000; it was in the northern basin, and the dock was at the northern entrance, not on the southern side. The statement that passenger ferries “has been remained the same” is also not a clear comparison of the dock changes. Your overview refers generally to visitors and entertainment rather than summarising the major changes. Focus on the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the new hotel beach, and changes to facilities and jetties.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has separate paragraphs and uses basic time markers such as “In 2000” and “In todays map,” which gives the reader some sense of a before-and-after comparison. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second body paragraph shifts from the marina to an unclear claim about a southern dock, then to “a different aesthetic views.” Several ideas are joined with “but” or “along with that” without showing a precise relationship, and the overview repeats broad points about visitors rather than organising the key changes. Group the information by location or by type of change, and use clear comparisons such as “whereas” and “by contrast.” This would make the map description easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “marina,” “castle,” “hotels,” “cafes and shops,” and “passenger ferries,” so the reader can recognise the general subject. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural for describing a map. “Different aesthetic views,” “new style of design,” and “new spectators” do not clearly describe the physical changes shown. There is also repetition of “new” and “visitors,” while “multiples changes” and “severals” show inaccurate word forms. Aim for precise map vocabulary such as “relocated,” “replaced,” “added,” and “converted,” and name the facilities and their positions rather than using general promotional language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a contrast with “but” and a clause beginning “as in 2000 construction.” However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors in agreement, tense, articles, and punctuation sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “marina … are also on this side” has a singular-plural mismatch, while “it has change over time” uses an incorrect verb form. “Passengers ferries has been remained the same” combines an incorrect plural form with an ungrammatical passive construction. There are also missing spaces after commas and inconsistent apostrophes in “Overall,we” and “todays.” Practise short, accurate comparison sentences before combining them into longer structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.