Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13
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 compare the transformation of the Beechwood farm between 1950 and today.
Overall, various changes can be noticed. Including, the addition of farm shop, the sheep that has transformed to be a camping field and all of the facilities involved.
Beginning with the left side of the road, whereas, a farm shop is added in the fruit trees area. Interestingly, the road that once be the normal track has developed into a road nowadays. Meanwhile others has a various changed, soft fruits and vegetables areas have remained the same.
In terms of the right side of the road, the sheep has a significant chance, it has separated into two parts, one has became a camping field and a parking lot, while another has turned into a solar panels and a parking area.
Additionally, at the central corner, the barn has relocated to the left corner of the triangle intersection, and a holiday cottages is replacing the old barn; however, despite all the changes, the farmhouse has stayed the same.
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 provides a clear overview and identifies the main changes, such as the addition of the farm shop, the conversion of sheep areas into camping and solar facilities, and the relocation of the barn. However, the description is occasionally imprecise; for example, referring to 'the sheep' as a singular entity that has 'separated' is slightly confusing. While the main features are covered, the report would benefit from more precise spatial language to help the reader visualize the layout changes more clearly. The overall summary is present, but the development of the information could be more analytical by focusing on the scale of the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to specific areas of the farm. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Including, the addition of...' which is a sentence fragment. Transitions like 'Beginning with the left side' and 'In terms of the right side' are functional but repetitive. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'others' or 'the sheep', which makes the flow of information feel slightly disjointed at times. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes effectively. There are some instances of inaccurate word choice, such as 'the sheep that has transformed' (referring to the area, not the animals) and 'a significant chance' (likely meaning 'change'). Phrases like 'normal track' and 'central corner' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher bands. While the student attempts to use specific terminology like 'holiday cottages' and 'solar panels', the overall range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in collocation that slightly hinder the sophistication of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the flow. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('others has a various changed'), incorrect verb tenses ('the road that once be the normal track'), and punctuation errors, such as the misuse of commas in 'Including, the addition of'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To reach a higher band, the student needs to focus on consistent verb tense usage and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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