Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-06
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 plan reveals the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today. Some major development has occurred after the year 1950.
It clearly displays that today the farm shop has been opened at the fruit trees area and the track now has been converted into a proper road. The barn has been shifted between the vegetables and chicken space connecting to the road where the wide space was available in the 1950s plan. At the place of barn a holiday cottages has been developed in the today's plan and just opposite the cottages and farm shop a parking space is also available connecting to the road. A camping field and some solar pannels are also developed where sheep are used to be in 1950s.
in Conclusion, the area has been developed considering the current trend and technology to increase the visitor footfall and the space has been properly utilized in the today's map.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the farm site in 1950 and today, including the addition of the farm shop, the road, and the solar panels. However, the response lacks a clear overview paragraph, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. An overview should highlight the most significant changes, such as the transition from a purely agricultural site to a more commercialized, visitor-oriented facility. While you mention some details, the description of the barn's relocation is slightly confusing, and you could have provided a more structured comparison between the two time periods to better highlight the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a good start. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You rely on simple transitions like 'in Conclusion' and 'today', but the internal flow between sentences could be improved by using more sophisticated cohesive devices (e.g., 'In contrast to the 1950 layout,' or 'Furthermore, the area previously occupied by...'). The referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a distinct overview paragraph impacts the overall logical flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'converted', 'shifted', and 'utilized'. However, there are some inaccuracies and spelling errors, such as 'pannels' (panels) and 'a holiday cottages' (a singular article with a plural noun). To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and ensure subject-verb agreement. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
Your writing shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly impede the flow, such as 'where sheep are used to be' (should be 'where sheep used to be') and 'a holiday cottages has been developed' (subject-verb agreement error). While your meaning is generally clear, these recurring errors in basic grammar and article usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past versus present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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