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 maps illustrate the the changes that have taken place at Beechwood Farm between 1950 and the present day.
Overall, the beechwood farm has been significantly redeveloped to improve tourism and recreational facilities. While the sheep area has been divided into different spaces for camping field, solar panels and two parking. A new barn has also been developed at the sharp edge of the interconnecting track.
In 1950, the beechwood farm contained a barn, farmhouse, area for chickens, vegetables, soft fruits and fruit trees and there is not space for parking. Sheep area covered the more space among the other shops area.
Today, several notable changes can be seen. The barn is converted into holiday cottages. The track road is also converted into road for traffic and two parking has been developed on the both sides of the road that will facilitates the people whos come for shopping and for tourist. The flow of the river remained same in 1950 to till day.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the conversion of the barn and the introduction of new facilities like solar panels and parking. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; the maps do not suggest the farm was redeveloped specifically for 'tourism and recreational facilities'—this is an assumption not supported by the visual evidence. Furthermore, the description of the sheep area is confusing, as the text claims it was divided into camping and solar panels, whereas the map shows these as distinct additions. To improve, focus strictly on reporting the visual data provided without adding external interpretations, and ensure the overview highlights the most significant spatial changes more clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the 1950 state from the present day. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'from 1950 to till day,' which is grammatically awkward. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the second paragraph where the connection between the sheep area and the new facilities is muddled. To reach a higher band, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences flow more naturally to guide the reader through the spatial changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'sharp edge of the interconnecting track' and 'road for traffic.' Additionally, there are errors in pluralization and word form, such as 'two parking' (should be 'two parking areas') and 'whos come for shopping.' While the meaning is generally clear, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. Focusing on more precise terminology for map descriptions, such as 'converted into,' 'replaced by,' or 'situated to the north of,' would enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'the the changes,' 'the beechwood farm' (inconsistent capitalization), 'Sheep area covered the more space,' and 'that will facilitates.' The subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, proofread carefully for basic errors in articles, verb endings, and sentence structure to ensure greater accuracy in your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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