Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-13

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 given pictures depict a change in a farm site in 1950 and today, so there is a comparison of different items and also the map of the farmhouse.

Overall, there is a huge difference in Beechwood Farm than 1950, many iteams are replaced, while the setting of map has also changed.

If we compare today image of Beechwood Farm with 1950 image, the first and most important change is that the solar panel setup is added in the farm, while tents for camping field are also added. The parking is on the east side of the farm near to the solar setup and the fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetable fields remain same but a farm shop is built on the west side of farm which is also near to main highway.

Meanwhile, there are also others things are added in farm, like holiday cottages are the part of today's farm and barn shifted near to track. The farmhouse, chickens area are still at same place but another parking area is set up on west south side of the image.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad contrast between the farm in 1950 and today, and mention several important additions, including solar panels, camping, a farm shop and holiday cottages. You also note that the fruit and vegetable areas remain. However, the overview is vague: “a huge difference” does not explain the main pattern of change, such as the farm’s shift towards tourism and visitor facilities while some agricultural uses remain. Some locations are inaccurate or unclear. The parking near the solar panels is not on the east side of the farm, and the second parking area is along the northern edge of the eastbound road, not on the “west south side.” The barn has moved, but its new position should be described more precisely. Select the main changes and compare their locations accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic progression from an introduction and overview to details about new facilities and retained features. Phrases such as “Overall,” “If we compare,” and “Meanwhile” help signal this structure. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph combines the overview with an unclear statement about the map setting, while the later paragraphs group features without a clear spatial order. The sentence about parking, solar panels and fruit fields places several unrelated details together, making the relationships difficult to follow. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “also.” Organise the details by area—for example, the western fields and shop, then the northern visitor facilities, and finally the eastern buildings—and use references that make each location clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “solar panel,” “camping field,” “holiday cottages,” “farmhouse” and “fields,” so the reader can identify many of the features. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “items,” “setup,” “main highway” and “shifted near to track.” “Items” is too general for describing land use, while “highway” does not accurately name the road shown. There are also spelling and word-form errors, including “iteams” and “vegetable fields” where the plural form is needed. Aim for precise terms such as “facilities,” “road,” “relocated” and “agricultural plots,” and check spelling and collocations. This would make the comparisons more exact and easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt some longer sentences using contrast and comparison, for example, “the fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetable fields remain same but a farm shop is built…”. However, control is uneven, and several sentences contain errors in articles, agreement or sentence construction. Examples include “a change in a farm site,” “there is a huge difference … than 1950,” and “the farmhouse, chickens area are still at same place.” The final sentence also joins several ideas without clear grammatical relationships. Use “the same” and appropriate articles, and check that subjects and verbs agree. Shorter, clearly structured sentences can help you report locations accurately; then add complex clauses only when their relationships are clear.

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

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