Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-08
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 image illustrates the differences of farm site from 1950 to today.
The first image shows the farm site of Beechwood in 1950. There was a huge sheep farm on the north-east corner. There was also a road that passed over the river. There were also a chicken's area and barn. In contrast, there was farming of fruits and vegetables along with the track. The fruits and vegetables categorised in three parts, for fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetables. However, in the southwest corner there was a farmhouse for
The second image shows the present's farm site. In the north-east corner, there is solar plant. Additionally, there are two parking, one is on the entrance, and another one is on opposite of the farm shop. Along with the solar plant, there are tents on the camping field, where residents can come and enjoy their valuable time. However, on the main entrance, there is a holiday cottage behind the farmhouse for tourists.
Overall, the images show numerous changes on the farm site of Beechwood from 1950.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the farm site in 1950 and today. However, the description is somewhat fragmented and lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, such as the transition from agricultural production to tourism and energy generation. The report is also incomplete, as the sentence regarding the farmhouse in the first paragraph is cut off. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the two time periods could be more analytical rather than just listing items. To improve, ensure all sentences are complete and provide a more cohesive synthesis of the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from 1950 to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'There was', 'There were', 'In contrast', 'However'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the abrupt ending of the first paragraph disrupts the flow of information. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that ideas within and between paragraphs are connected more fluidly, rather than simply listing features in a sequence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic descriptors like 'huge' and 'area'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'present's farm site' instead of 'present-day farm site' or 'current layout'. The phrase 'chicken's area' is also unnatural; 'poultry area' or 'chicken coop' would be more appropriate. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to land use and development, and focus on using more natural collocations to describe the changes observed in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'differences of farm site' (missing article), 'two parking' (should be 'parking areas'), and 'on opposite of' (should be 'opposite'). The sentence 'However, in the southwest corner there was a farmhouse for' is incomplete, which is a significant error. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.