Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The two diagrams display a porth harbour how it change after some years. Overall, it can clear seen that total six changes show in today diagram after refurbishment work.

In 2000 year, at North side only one dock are their but after renovation work it added one more dock for passenger ferries in today chart. Furthermore, at west side the two common changes, marina (private yachts) and fishing boats both are inter change between. However, at east side one large switch in 2000 diagram the castle are their but after development work it switch in to big hotel and private beach also alloted for hotel.

After some years at west side the one swap in today chart the shower and toilets are include. moreover, in today chart one more change seen clearly the cafe and shop located at south side after refurbishment work. In both diagram total six changes are show but only two or three large switch.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important changes, including the exchange of the marina and fishing-boat areas, the replacement of the disused castle by a hotel, and the hotel’s private beach. The opening also attempts an overview by noting that the harbour has been redeveloped. However, the overview is vague: “total six changes” is not a clear summary of the main pattern, and the response does not accurately explain all key developments. For example, the extra jetty and two boats at the dock are described as “one more dock,” while the new showers and toilets and car park are not clearly located. The cafés and shops are placed at the south side, although they are beside the lifeboat station along the road. Select the major changes and describe their locations more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about the harbour’s different areas. Phrases such as “Furthermore” and “However” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the account shifts between north, west, east and south, then returns to the west, without a clear organising principle. “After some years at west side” also makes the relationship between the time change and location difficult to follow. The repeated references to “in today chart” and “after refurbishment work” make cohesion mechanical, while “total six changes” is repeated without clarifying the grouping. Organise the details by comparing the same locations in 2000 and today, and use more precise referencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “dock,” “marina,” “fishing boats,” “castle,” “hotel” and “private beach,” so the reader can identify the main features being discussed. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “large switch” and “refurbishment work.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and sometimes obscure the intended meaning: “inter change between” should describe the areas as having exchanged places, and “alloted” is not the appropriate verb for the beach’s status. “Today diagram” and “today chart” are also imprecise for a pair of plans. Aim for accurate collocations and avoid vague expressions such as “one swap” or “large switch”; terms like “relocated,” “converted” and “added” would describe the changes more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “but” and a time clause beginning “after some years.” This gives the response some structural variety, and the main intended comparisons can generally be understood. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms are persistent. For example, “it can clear seen” needs a passive form (“it can clearly be seen”), while “one dock are their” has problems with agreement and sentence structure. In “the castle are their but … it switch in to big hotel,” the verb forms, articles and tense are not controlled. Several clauses also lack clear grammatical connections. Practise accurate past and present passive forms, subject–verb agreement, and complete sentences before adding more complex structures.

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