Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-26
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 above plans show the site of farm in 1950 and the same site today in 2026. Time is very important. With time everything will be changed . Nowadays, time is spending very fast. Once a time will gone it will never come again. In this plans, there is a Beechwood Farm in 1950 and now in 2006.
In 1950 , there are only few things around the farm .This picture shows the farm house and the things around it . Like farm is surrounded by the long river. And on the other side there is a long track . On the other side of track there is a sheep's . firstly, there are fruit trees of different kind and then soft fruits and after that there are vegetables , chickens and barn .
But now in 2016, there is a farm shop with fruit trees , track has been changes into the road which joining the barn. On the other side of road , there is parking, camping fields and then solar panels . And with farm.house there us a holiday cottages and parking .
This tell us that everything will be changed with the passage of the time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to describe the changes to the farm, but it fails to provide a clear overview or a structured summary of the main features. The inclusion of irrelevant philosophical musings about time at the beginning and end of the essay detracts from the task requirements. While the student identifies some changes, such as the road and the addition of solar panels, the description is often disorganized and lacks precise comparisons between the two time periods. To improve, focus strictly on the visual data provided, group features logically (e.g., agricultural vs. recreational areas), and ensure a clear summary of the most significant changes is included.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The introduction and conclusion are filled with irrelevant personal reflections rather than summarizing the data. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and sometimes inaccurate way, such as the repetitive use of 'on the other side' and 'and then'. The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout of the farm. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words to show contrast and sequence, and ensure each paragraph has a clear, focused topic related to the task.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Basic terms like 'things', 'picture', and 'changed' are used frequently, which does not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'time is spending very fast' and 'track has been changes into the road'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precise terminology for describing maps (e.g., 'converted', 'replaced', 'expanded', 'situated') limits the score. Focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary for describing changes in maps and diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement ('there are only few things', 'there is a sheep's'), tense inconsistencies ('time is spending', 'track has been changes'), and article usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely prevent communication, they are frequent and noticeable throughout the text. To improve, practice using a mix of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, and pay closer attention to basic verb tense consistency.
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