Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.



 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The map plans illustrates the site of farm in 1950 and same site today.

Overall, the major change that is the sheep area that is covered with camping field solar panels and parkings in nowadays, and also the tack which is now road overall. Another small changes are the farm hop in fruit trees area, barn and farmhouse that have developed.

In 1950, sheep area is in the top left corner which a wide area, so now it is replaced by solar panels and camping field and two parkings one is at the top left side of the map close to road, while another parking is at the camping area side which is top right side before the highway. Another small change which farm shop that is developed in fruit tees area.

Furthermore, the tack is now coverted in to road, and the major changes is the holiday cottages which is now on the place of barn, while farmhouse remained same.

Another small development is the barn and chicken which also been developed on the road the converg

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad change from a working farm towards visitor and energy uses, mentioning the camping field, solar panels, farm shop and holiday cottages. However, several comparisons are inaccurate or unclear: the sheep area is not replaced by the parking areas, and the cottages occupy the area around the former farmhouse rather than the former barn. The farmhouse remains in roughly the same location, while the barn is relocated; these important changes are not reported accurately. The response also gives little account of the fruit, soft-fruit and vegetable plots, which largely remain, and the final sentence is incomplete. To strengthen the summary, select the main changes and unchanged features, then describe their locations precisely and avoid unsupported claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable paragraph structure, moving from an overview to details about the northern area and then the buildings. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression is weakened by repeated, loosely connected statements such as “Another small change” and “Another small development,” and the overview does not clearly organise the changes into land use, access and buildings. Some references are difficult to follow, particularly “another parking … at the camping area side” and the unfinished final sentence. Use clearer grouping and more precise linking: for example, describe the western fields together, then the new facilities in the north and the altered buildings in the east. Ensure each paragraph develops a complete point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “camping field,” “solar panels,” “holiday cottages” and “remained,” so the reader can recognise several key features. However, the range is limited and errors in spelling, word form and collocation are noticeable, sometimes making meaning difficult to recover. Examples include “farm hop” for “farm shop,” “fruit tees” for “fruit trees,” “tack” for “track,” and “coverted in to road.” The repeated use of “small change” and “developed” also makes the description imprecise; facilities are added or built, while a track is converted into a road. Learn accurate map terms and use verbs that distinguish relocation, replacement and retention.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, including a contrast with “while farmhouse remained same.” However, control is limited: errors occur frequently in basic sentence patterns and in attempts to combine ideas, which can make relationships unclear. For example, “The map plans illustrates” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “the major change that is the sheep area that is covered” is not a complete, well-formed construction. Articles and tense are also inconsistent in phrases such as “site of farm” and “which also been developed.” The final sentence breaks off, leaving its meaning incomplete. Practise complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles and past-versus-present forms.

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