Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10

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 6.5)

The maps on display share the story of how the site of Beechwood farm has changed over the years. We have two different maps displaying the same area, but one dates back to 1950 while the other is as of the present date.

To shed some light on what has stayed same throughout all these years, we can see the fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables plantations are still in the same area where it used to be in the year of 1950. We can also see the highway on the left and the river bordering the farm in both the maps. Also, the chicken farm is there to be seen as well, not moving from it's initial position.

Now, on the flip side, we can see a lot has changed as well during the years. We can see the tracks have now built into proper roads. The grazing field for the sheep now boasts some solar panels and camping fields for the travelers. The holiday cottages and Farmhouse would surely have some economic contribution to the farm. Also, a new farm shop can be seen as well, just by the highway. A well thought positioning of the parking also speaks of the development of Beechwood Farm.

During all these years, a lot has stayed same, and a lot has changed. Recent developments around the farm suggests proper economic thought process of the governing body, and it seems they have answered the call of modernisation, the need of the hour.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying both the static elements and the significant changes. You successfully highlight the addition of solar panels, camping fields, and the farm shop. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph that synthesises the most significant trends, such as the shift from purely agricultural use to a more diversified, tourism-oriented site. While you mention that 'a lot has changed,' a more analytical summary would elevate the response. The inclusion of subjective commentary, such as 'well thought positioning' and 'economic thought process,' is not appropriate for an Academic Task 1, which requires objective reporting of visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organised into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for similarities and differences, and a concluding summary. The use of cohesive devices like 'on the flip side,' 'also,' and 'during all these years' helps guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly informal or mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking structures rather than relying on simple additive connectors. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'modernisation,' 'plantation,' and 'diversified' (implied). There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly unnatural or informal for an academic report, such as 'shed some light on' and 'answered the call of modernisation.' These phrases are more suited to an essay or article than a data description task. Spelling is accurate throughout, and the vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some error-free sentences, there are occasional grammatical slips, such as 'the tracks have now built into proper roads' (should be passive: 'have been built') and 'it's initial position' (incorrect use of apostrophe for possessive 'its'). Additionally, 'the maps on display share the story' is slightly informal. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally handled well. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring consistent use of passive voice when describing changes to infrastructure.

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

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