Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-28

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 two plans indicates about the Porth Harbour in 2000 as compare to today's.

Overall, the layout of Porth Harbour increase the number of docks as compare to earlier even though the showers & toilets in the Porth Harbour is more than ancient time whereas one major change on the beach would build the hotel in today instead of castle.

First and Foremost, the porth Harbour in 2000 that the showers & toilets and even car park would minor change in today. Also there is two dock in earlier time as if now three docks in the port.

Furthermore, there is a cafes and shops in current porth harbour but in 2000 there is no cafes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify a few relevant changes, including the hotel replacing the castle and cafés and shops being added, and you attempt an overall comparison. However, the overview is unclear and includes inaccurate details: the harbour does not gain more docks; the northern dock has an additional jetty, while the number of boats shown changes. The statement that there are “two dock[s]” before and “three docks” today is not supported by the plans. Important changes are also omitted, such as the marina and fishing boats switching areas and the southern beach becoming private. The response is 116 words, below the required 150, which limits the detail you can report. Develop a clear overview and describe the main changes accurately before adding smaller features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an attempted overview, and a paragraph beginning “First and Foremost.” Linking expressions such as “Overall” and “Furthermore” show an effort to guide the reader. However, progression is difficult to follow because several sentences combine unrelated or unclear points, and the final paragraph ends abruptly. For example, “the showers & toilets and even car park would minor change in today” does not clearly explain what changed or where. The repeated use of “Also” and “Furthermore” does not establish a clear sequence of features. Organise the report into a concise overview followed by comparisons of the northern and southern areas, and use linking phrases to show specific contrasts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “harbour,” “car park,” “docks,” “castle,” and “hotel,” so the reader can recognise the general subject. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear. “Increase the number of docks” misdescribes the plan, while “as compare to” and “ancient time” are not natural ways to compare the two maps. The repeated use of “today” and “in 2000” also leaves little variety for describing changes. Build a more precise set of map vocabulary, such as “was replaced by,” “was relocated,” “remained unchanged,” and “was converted into,” and check that each phrase accurately reflects the visual information.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts longer sentences and uses basic present and past time references, but control is inconsistent and errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. For example, “The two plans indicates” has subject–verb disagreement, and “as compare to today's” has an incorrect comparative construction. In “the showers & toilets and even car park would minor change in today,” the verb pattern is incomplete and the sentence structure is unclear. The final sentence, “in 2000 there is no cafes,” also has errors in tense and agreement. Use straightforward, complete comparisons first—for example, “In 2000, the castle was disused; today, a hotel occupies the site”—then practise combining them with accurate clauses.

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