Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The map presents a Porth Harbour in 2000 and how it looks today after the redevelopment.

Overall, what stands out from the map is that the harbour is now more developed than past like the dock area now expended for two boats, the castle from the east, south side are now a hotel, and the public beach are converted into private beach for the hotel use. The new cafe & shop is built on the left side of the lifeboat area. Marina (private yachts) and fishing boats are transferred to each other places.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify several genuine changes, including the hotel replacing the castle, the addition of cafés and shops, and the exchange of the marina and fishing-boat areas. However, the response is only 85 words, 65 short of the required minimum, so it cannot provide the fuller summary and key comparisons expected. Some details are also inaccurate or unclear: the southern beach was public in 2000 and is private today, rather than being converted from a public beach without specifying its location; the dock has an additional jetty and two boats, not simply space for two boats. Develop a clear overview and describe the main changes to facilities, harbour use and beaches more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure: an opening sentence followed by an overview of changes. This gives the reader a starting point, and the changes are generally grouped together rather than presented as unrelated details. However, the second paragraph places several changes in one long sentence, making the relationships between them difficult to follow. Phrases such as “the castle from the east, south side” and “transferred to each other places” do not clearly guide the reader through the map. Use separate sentences or paragraphs to organise changes by area, and add clear links such as “In the north” and “Meanwhile, in the south” to create a more logical progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “harbour,” “dock,” “lifeboat,” “marina” and “private beach,” which helps communicate the topic. There is also an attempt to describe change with “redevelopment” and “transferred.” However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “dock area now expended,” “the castle from the east,” and “transferred to each other places.” These expressions make some details hard to interpret. Build a more precise set of verbs for map changes, such as “was replaced by,” “was relocated to” and “was expanded,” and check spelling and natural combinations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both a complex opening (“and how it looks today after the redevelopment”) and a longer sentence listing changes, so there is some variety beyond isolated simple statements. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence structure and agreement sometimes obscure meaning. For example, “the public beach are converted” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “the castle from the east, south side are now a hotel” does not form a clear grammatical relationship between the subject and its replacement. The opening phrase “a Porth Harbour” also uses an unnecessary article. Practise writing short, complete comparison sentences first, then combine related ideas with accurate clauses and consistent past and present tenses.

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