Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-12

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 map represents development of Beechwood Farm from 1950 to present day.

Overall, The Beechwood Farm had developed as tourist attraction. Farm had new technology and holiday places constructed.

In 1950, The Beechwood Farm had large area for Fruit trees, Soft fruits , Vegetables and Sheep yard. The Farm has covered with river by two sides. Entering into Farm there is track which connects every place of Farm. At the end of the track there are few places like Barn, Farmhouse and Chickens. In starting of Farm there is Sheep yard and other end they have Fruit trees, Soft fruits and Vegetables.

Today, The Beechwood Farm had turned into tourist attraction and new places were build for tourists like at entry of Farm there is parking and other side there is Farm shop of visitors to buy things. In place of sheep camping field and Solar panels were build. At end of of road there is another parking lot just oposite to the Holiday cottages

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the changes at Beechwood Farm. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the transition from agricultural use to tourism. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial layout. For instance, you mention 'other side' or 'at end of road' without using clear directional language (e.g., 'in the north-west corner' or 'adjacent to'). While you cover the main features, the description of the 1950s layout is somewhat repetitive and lacks the comparative analysis required for a higher band. To improve, ensure you explicitly contrast the 'before' and 'after' states rather than listing them separately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from 1950 to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and mechanical. Phrases like 'In starting of Farm' and 'At the end of the track' are used repeatedly, which makes the flow feel somewhat stilted. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas within sentences. To improve, try using a wider range of cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in contrast' to better link your observations and comparisons.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple descriptors like 'new places' and 'things'. There is also some awkward phrasing, such as 'The Farm has covered with river', which is grammatically incorrect and imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific vocabulary related to maps and development, such as 'converted', 'demolished', 'replaced', or 'situated'. Additionally, ensure you use correct collocations, such as 'the farm is bordered by a river' rather than 'covered with river'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'The Beechwood Farm had developed' should be 'has developed' or 'has been developed'. There are also issues with articles ('the' is often missing) and verb tenses ('were build' should be 'were built'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past and present states.

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.