Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-04

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 given graph illustrates that the porth harbour in 2000 had some of the main features like the car park as soon as you enter from the main road in West to East direction. Showers and toilets are also present near the Marina (private yachts). As we can see that there is a public beach having passenger ferries nearby also fishing boats and lifeboats are present. Meanwhile on the other end of the port facing South, we can see a castle near the public beach which is not in the use of the public.

The second graph illustrates the porth harbour today.It shows the addition of hotel instead of the disused castle and cafes and shops has also been added in the port harbour. The dock for the passenger ferries is double now as compared to the one in 2000. Also showers and toilets are build near the both car parking areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several relevant features, including the hotel replacing the disused castle, the addition of cafés and shops, and changes to the dock. However, the response only partially summarises the plans: it lacks a clear overview of the main transformations and gives limited spatial detail. Some information is inaccurate or unclear: the public beach is not described as having passenger ferries nearby, and the dock is not simply “double”; it gains an additional jetty and has two boats berthed on opposite sides. The key relocation of the marina and fishing boats is also omitted. To strengthen the response, select the major changes and compare their locations accurately, including the change from a public to a private beach by the hotel.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a basic, coherent sequence: it first describes the harbour in 2000 and then turns to its present-day layout. Phrases such as “Meanwhile” and “The second graph illustrates” help signal this shift, and the ideas are generally understandable. However, the first paragraph moves between features without a clear spatial route, while the second lists additions rather than grouping related changes. Some linking is mechanical, and “also” is repeated. Organise the description by area or by type of change—for example, facilities, water uses, and the southern shore—and use clearer references to show how features relate to one another. This would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough task-related vocabulary to communicate several features, including “marina,” “disused castle,” “passenger ferries,” and “car parking areas.” However, the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a map. “Graph” is not the right term for plans, “port harbour” is repetitive, and “the dock … is double” does not clearly express the change shown. There are also word-form and spelling issues, such as “cafes” and “build” where “built” is needed. Aim for precise location and change vocabulary, such as “relocated,” “adjacent to,” “replaced by,” and “an additional jetty,” while avoiding repeated general terms like “added.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main message is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, agreement, verb forms, and punctuation. For example, “the porth harbour” should use appropriate capitalisation and article use, while “cafes and shops has also been added” has a subject–verb agreement problem. “Showers and toilets are build” uses the wrong verb form, and “near the both car parking areas” has an incorrect article pattern. Sentence boundaries also need attention: “today.It” requires a space after the full stop. Practise accurate present and past forms when comparing the two plans, and check agreement and articles during proofreading.

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