Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-01

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 plan illustrates the harbour in 2000 and how's it changed and now how it's looks like in present time.

The porth horbour changed a little bit development from 2000 to till now. On the north side near the public beach a new passenger ferry start operating with the two old ferries. In the north of marina private yachts and there opposite south side fishing boats changed each others locations. A new cafes & shops are build connected with lifeboat.

To begin, In south east corner a castle is changed into hotel. In Addition, Near the right side of south the public beaches converted into the private one's which is now only for hotel clients and community. Moreover, A one new showers and toilets are made with the second park which is located on south left corner. Furthermore, while the other things of the porth harbour area are remain same as were in 2000 to now.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important changes, including the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the addition of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the castle by a hotel. However, the overview is vague: saying the harbour “changed a little bit” does not capture the main pattern of redevelopment. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. The passenger ferries are shown near the northern dock in both plans; the map indicates an additional jetty and two boats, not a new ferry service. The southern beach becomes private for hotel guests, not “for hotel clients and community.” You also say most other features remain the same, although the marina and fishing boats switch areas and facilities are added. Select the major changes more accurately and summarise them clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, and sequencing phrases such as “To begin,” “In addition,” and “Moreover” show an attempt to organise the changes. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph moves between the north and south, while the final paragraph lists several changes without a clear grouping or overall summary. Some linking phrases are awkward or do not express the relationship between ideas, such as “Furthermore, while the other things…” The reference in “there opposite south side” is also difficult to follow. Group changes by location or type—for example, water-use changes, new facilities, and changes to the southern shore—and use fewer, more precise transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “marina,” “fishing boats,” “lifeboat,” and “private beach,” so the reader can identify the features being described. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning unclear. For example, “changed each others locations” is an awkward way to describe the two areas switching positions, and “a new passenger ferry start operating” does not accurately describe the map. There are also spelling errors in “horbour” and “cafes,” and “the private one's” is not a suitable expression here. Practise precise verbs for map changes, such as “relocated,” “replaced,” and “converted,” and check spelling and natural collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a few longer sentences, but most structures are simple, and errors occur frequently enough to make some statements difficult to interpret. Examples include “how's it changed and now how it's looks like,” “a new passenger ferry start operating,” and “the other things … are remain same.” These show problems with verb forms, tense, and sentence construction. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “To begin, In south east corner.” Aim for clear present-perfect or past-to-present comparisons, such as “The castle has been replaced by a hotel,” and check subject–verb agreement and articles. Building accurate simple sentences first will make your comparisons easier to follow.

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

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