Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-07
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 below two maps illustrates the site of a farm by the year 1950 and the same site in present.
Overall, it is inferred that the farm is transformed into a traditional agricultural site into a combines farming with tourism and renewable energy. While some cultivated area remained still unchanged, several new facalities are also developed and the layout of some building has been significantly altered.
At first glance, In 1950, the northen east side fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables fields taked place. And it is still remained same in this period. While, a barn replace with holiday cottages in western side. Farmhouse and chickens depicts unchanged in present.
Moving towards further details, a farm shop was developed by next to fruit trees. After that, the northen area of sheep farming is removed with camping field and solar panels. While, each side field has parking areas. Lastly, roads are constructed by replace with tracks.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview of the main changes, such as the shift from purely agricultural use to a mix of tourism and energy production. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial changes. For instance, stating 'the northen area of sheep farming is removed' is vague, and the description of the 'western side' is slightly inaccurate based on the visual data. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the two time periods could be more detailed, particularly regarding the specific locations of the new facilities. The summary is sufficient but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the overview to specific details. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'At first glance, In 1950' and 'Moving towards further details'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which specific part of the map is being discussed. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the flow between sentences could be improved with more varied and natural linking words to enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes (e.g., 'cultivated area', 'renewable energy', 'holiday cottages'). However, there are several instances of inaccurate word choice and collocation, such as 'facalities' (spelling error), 'taked place' (incorrect verb form), and 'depicts unchanged' (incorrect usage). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for map descriptions, such as 'converted into', 'replaced by', or 'situated in the northern part'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The below two maps illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'the farm is transformed into a traditional agricultural site into a combines farming' (preposition and word form errors), and 'roads are constructed by replace with tracks' (incorrect verb form). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to verb tenses and sentence structure is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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