Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-27

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)

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and mke comparisions where relevent for Porth Harbour in 2000 vs currently.

Overall a big chnage happened in the main road as before there was just one way to go to the main area now there is one additional road with having twice showers and toilet and car parkings, also there are cafes and shops newly developed as well currently then befre there was none, however there was a castle in 2000s than now its reconsrtucted to a hotel rest of it is pretty much the same.

Firstly at Porth Harbour in past at west there were just one washroom with two parkings but the other one was really far with now having two parkings and two washrooms close to eachother with two different roads. Other than that another big change is the fishing boats where at bottom in 2000s, while mariana private yarts at top of the Porth Harbour, now its upside down as both of them have changed its position today. Another thing is that from the first long route there was just lifeboat and other activities same as now. But now there are cafes and shops buit for newer crowd which is a really great thing. Lastly one major change is that there was a castle at the south bottom, but now its replaced by hotel for new vistors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major changes, including the relocation of the fishing boats and marina, the addition of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the castle by a hotel. Your overview also recognises that some features remain unchanged. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the main road did not gain an additional route, and the harbour’s dock and jetties are not covered. The statement that the rest is “pretty much the same” also overlooks the change from a public to a private beach and the added facilities near the marina. To strengthen the response, give a more precise overview of the harbour’s redevelopment and describe the key changes and unchanged features accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an overview followed by details, with sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Another thing,” and “Lastly.” This helps the reader follow the main points. However, progression is sometimes difficult to track because several changes are packed into long sentences, and references such as “the first long route” and “both of them” are not sufficiently clear. Some linking phrases, including “Other than that” and “But now,” feel repetitive or loosely connected to the point before them. Organise the details into clearer groups—for example, facilities and access, changes within the harbour, and the southern area—and use precise references to locations and features.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a map, including “replaced,” “position,” “lifeboat,” and “cafes and shops.” However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations make the description imprecise, such as “one way to go to the main area,” “two different roads,” and “newer crowd.” Spelling errors—including “chnage,” “comparisions,” “mariana,” and “vistors”—are noticeable and can distract the reader. Aim for accurate map vocabulary and standard spelling, using terms such as “relocated,” “adjacent,” and “harbour entrance” where appropriate. Avoid informal evaluations such as “a really great thing,” since the task calls for a neutral factual summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses and contrast, as in “where at bottom in 2000s, while…” and “however there was a castle…,” but these structures are often incomplete or difficult to follow. For example, “Overall a big change happened in the main road as before there was just one way to go…” joins several ideas without clear sentence boundaries. There are also errors in verb forms and agreement, such as “now there are cafes” following “there was,” and “both of them have changed its position.” Articles and prepositions are sometimes missing or awkward. Use shorter, complete sentences first, then add controlled comparisons with accurate past and present forms.

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

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