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 map illustrates looks for a harbour in 2000 and now.

Overall, there is so many change between 2000 and now. They just add a new cafe and shop then all the rest are same, they just modified it.

At the start of the map, in 2000, there was a castle (disused) which is converted into a hotel and the attached public beach is now only for the hotel staff or customer and they add a way with the road. They add a cafe and shops beside the lifeboat. Across the river, they add a new dock and increase the width of dock.In 2000, they kept Marina (private yachts) in north side and fishing boats in south side. But they keep these upside down now. They remove the showers and toilets which is located in south in 2000. In south area's car park, they remove the link with road and add link with main road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important changes, including the castle becoming a hotel, the beach becoming private, cafés and shops being added, and the marina and fishing-boat areas switching locations. However, the overview is inaccurate: “They just add a new cafe and shop then all the rest are same” overlooks substantial changes, including the relocated facilities and altered dock. Some details are also misreported: the dock is not new, but has an additional jetty; the southern showers and toilets were not removed, as facilities are added near the marina; and the map does not show a new road or a link from the car park to the main road. The response therefore covers the task only partially, with key features underdeveloped or unclear. Give a more accurate overview and distinguish additions from relocations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an overview to details, and it uses time markers such as “in 2000” and “now” to signal comparison. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview says most features stayed the same, while the following paragraph lists several changes. Within the detail paragraph, locations and changes are presented in a sequence that is difficult to follow, and “Across the river” does not clearly identify the area being discussed. Linking is limited and sometimes repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “they add” and “they remove.” Organise the description by area or by type of change, and use clear references such as “in the northern basin” and “in the south” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “harbour,” “castle,” “hotel,” “lifeboat,” and “marina,” so the main subject is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “looks for a harbour,” “so many change,” and “keep these upside down.” Repeated wording such as “add” and “remove” also makes the account less precise; changes include relocation, replacement, and expansion, which need different verbs. Some labels are not reported accurately, for example “public beach” for the beach that becomes private. Build a more varied set of terms for describing map changes and use the labels shown on the plans to improve precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentences, including “At the start of the map, in 2000, there was a castle … which is converted into a hotel,” but control is inconsistent and errors sometimes make relationships unclear. Examples include “there is so many change,” where subject–verb agreement and plural form are incorrect, and “which is converted,” where the tense does not fit a comparison between 2000 and today. The sentence beginning “They remove the showers and toilets” also shifts tense without a clear reason. Most sentences follow simple patterns, with limited accurate variety. Practise past and present passive forms for map descriptions, and check agreement, articles, and punctuation when joining clauses.

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