Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-03

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 plans illustrates us a harbour in 2000 and how it is today.

Overall, there are some changes now as compared to back in 2000. The marina and fishing boats location is different in today plan whereas in 2000 it was different. In 2000 the castle and public beach is now changed to hotel and private beach respectively. In addition, there are cafes and shops in recent plan. Whereas, the other places are in same location.

In 2000, the marina and fishing boats location was different as compared to recent plan. The location of both is swapped with each other. In 2000, there were a castle and public beach which are now converted to hotel and private beach. The private beach is for only those people who stays in the hotel.

In addition, back in 2000 plan there were not any cafes and shops but now in today plan there are cafes and shops. Whereas, the other location are not chnaged, the rest of them are same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major changes accurately: the marina and fishing-boat areas have exchanged positions, the disused castle has become a hotel, the southern beach is now private, and cafés and shops have been added. These are relevant features, and the overview gives the reader a general sense of the redevelopment. However, some important changes are omitted, including the additional showers and toilets, the altered dock arrangement, and the fact that the north-eastern public beach remains. The statement that “the other places are in same location” is too broad because the dock has changed, and the response repeats the same comparisons rather than developing a fuller account of the plans. To strengthen the summary, select a few more key changes and describe them precisely, while distinguishing unchanged features from altered ones.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details, and the main comparisons can generally be followed. However, progression is limited because the marina/fishing-boats swap and the castle/beach conversion are repeated in both the overview and the body with little additional detail. Linking words such as “In addition” and “Whereas” are used, but “Whereas” begins fragments or loosely connected statements, so the relationships between ideas are not always smooth. The final sentence also repeats the claim that other locations are unchanged without clarifying which ones. Grouping changes by area or by type, then using clear references such as “these facilities” or “the southern beach,” would make the organisation more coherent and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “harbour,” “marina,” “fishing boats,” “castle,” “hotel,” and “private beach,” so the reader can understand the main transformations. However, the range is narrow and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise: “location is different” and “changed” recur, while “other places” does not identify the features being discussed. Some collocations are unnatural, such as “in today plan” and “converted to hotel.” There is also a spelling error in “chnaged.” Aim for more precise verbs and location language, for example, “was relocated,” “was replaced by,” and “remains in the same position.” This would help you report the map changes more efficiently and accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, articles, and tense. For example, “The plans illustrates” should use a plural verb, while “the castle and public beach is” needs a plural verb or a restructured sentence. In “people who stays in the hotel,” the verb should agree with the plural noun. The response also shifts awkwardly between past and present in “which are now converted,” and several clauses beginning with “Whereas” are not complete or well connected. Practise forming accurate comparison sentences with consistent time references, such as “The castle was replaced by a hotel, and the beach became private.” This will improve control without sacrificing sentence variety.

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