Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The illustrations below demonstrate the changes in the harbour from 2000 to today

Overall, the information about the harbour involves three main parts: the west side area, the central area, and the bottom side. The key factor is the castle, which has changed its function and become a hotel. Eventually, on the west side, fishing boats and marinas took up locations

Initially, in the central area, another dock was added after 2000. Cafes and shops opened near the lifeboat

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies a few relevant changes, including the castle becoming a hotel and cafés and shops appearing near the lifeboat. However, it addresses the task only minimally: it gives no developed account of the harbour’s main changes and omits important details such as the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the added jetty, and the change from a public to a private beach. The statement that “another dock was added” is inaccurate; the dock remains, although an additional jetty is shown. The overview is also unclear, and “fishing boats and marinas took up locations” does not explain how their positions changed. The response is 71 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to summarise and compare the plans adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: it begins with an introduction, gives an overall statement, and then starts describing central-area changes. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Initially,” and “Eventually” help signal the intended structure. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the overview divides the harbour into areas without clearly explaining the main changes, and the final sentence stops before the description is complete. The paragraphing does not yet create a clear sequence from overview to specific comparisons. Organise the response into a concise introduction and overview followed by paragraphs describing the northern and southern areas, using clear references to the 2000 plan and the present-day plan.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for describing maps, including “harbour,” “central area,” “castle,” “hotel,” “dock,” and “lifeboat.” This shows a basic ability to name locations and facilities. However, the range is limited, and several phrases are vague or imprecise: “bottom side” is not a natural way to describe a map location, while “took up locations” does not clearly express relocation. “Another dock was added” also uses the wrong term for the new feature, which is an additional jetty. Use more precise location and change vocabulary, such as “southern area,” “was relocated to,” “was replaced by,” and “an additional jetty was built,” to make comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes some complete, understandable sentences, such as “The key factor is the castle, which has changed its function and become a hotel.” It also attempts a relative clause with “which,” showing some variety beyond simple statements. However, the range remains narrow, with most ideas expressed in short, basic clauses, and the final sentence is incomplete: “Cafes and shops opened near the lifeboat” lacks the punctuation and continuation needed to complete the response’s description. The opening sentence also has no final full stop. Aim to write complete comparisons using accurate past and present forms, for example, “The castle was replaced by a hotel, and the beach beside it is now private.”

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