Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-05

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 about a porth harbour in 2000 and how it looks in present. Overall, some changed in both pictures like cafe's and shop in today's picture as compared in 2000.

To begin with, in 2000 there was a main road in the west side, made place for two car parking areas from the main road, there was showers and toilets in the soth side. In addition, on the east side there was abublic beach, a dock area and two passenger farries. In the ocean there was a marine (private yachts), fishing boats and a life boat that's road was connected from main road and car parking area. Moreover, on the east side of life boat there was a castle that not used in 2000 and there was a piblic beach near the castle.

Secondly, but in present this is likely same as in 2000 but some changes that are beneficial for the beauty of beach. There are two car parkings, two showers and toilets that are connected from the main road and two dock instead of one dock in 2000. the placement of fishing boat and marine private yachts are changed each other. Furthermore, there are cafe's and shops near the lifeboat , a hotel instead of castle beach and a private beach for the hotel instead of public beach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two time periods and mention several important changes, including the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the addition of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the castle with a hotel. However, the overview is vague: “some changed” does not clearly summarise the main transformation, and the claim that the changes are “beneficial for the beauty of beach” is not supported by the plans. Some details are inaccurate or unclear, such as placing the showers and toilets in the south in 2000 and describing a public beach near the castle; the southern beach is south of the road, while the north-eastern public beach remains. To strengthen the response, give a precise overview and report locations and changes more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph about 2000 and one about the present. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Moreover,” and “Secondly” help signal movement through the description. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several locations are combined in long, loosely connected sentences. For example, the sentence beginning “In addition, on the east side…” moves from the beach and dock to boats and the lifeboat without clear spatial relationships. The contrast introduced by “Secondly, but” is also awkward, and references such as “this” are not precise. Group features by area and use clear comparisons to make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “main road,” “car parking areas,” “private yachts,” and “instead of,” which helps convey the broad changes. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings make the description less precise: “marine” is used for “marina,” “farries” for “ferries,” and “piblic” for “public.” Phrases such as “some changed” and “beneficial for the beauty of beach” are also vague or unnatural. Aim to use accurate location and change vocabulary, such as “was relocated,” “was converted into,” and “adjacent to,” while checking the spelling of labels copied from the plan. This would make the account clearer and more appropriate for an academic map description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the reader can generally understand the broad comparison. However, errors in sentence structure, tense, agreement, and articles occur frequently. For example, “The plans illustrates” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “some changed in both pictures” is not a complete, natural construction. The sentence “the placement of fishing boat and marine private yachts are changed each other” has problems with number and sentence structure that obscure the relationship. Tense also shifts between “there was” and “in present this is likely same.” Practise forming clear past and present passive sentences, such as “The marina was moved to the southern basin,” and check agreement and articles in each sentence.

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

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