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 two different maps of an agricultural land indicates the changes in development in 1950 and nowadays.
In 1950's it can be clearly seen that north-east of the river is used by agriculture and sheep grazing. Along side the river, the area is used for fruits trees, soft fruits, and vegetables with the track of the farm. In the south-east corners the specific portions are devoted to Barn, farmhouse, and substantial place for chickens. Simultaneously, Nowadays the north-east corner has separate camping filed for fun activities with their independent parking area. Also a plethora of solar panels install in corner of this side. The track was converted into road and in south-east corner there is an addition of Holiday cottages with existing Farmhouse and place for chickens, also separate barn connected to both sides of the road. Furthermore, separate farm shop made in fruit trees area.
Overall, there is a significant number of changes made in nowadays farm, that made them modern and useful for other various activities as compared to 1950's farm.
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, identifying key changes such as the addition of the camping field, solar panels, and holiday cottages. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from purely agricultural use to a mix of agriculture and tourism. While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two time periods could be more analytical. The description of the layout is generally accurate, but some details, such as the specific locations of the new structures, could be more precisely integrated to provide a clearer picture of the spatial transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for the two time periods, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In 1950's', 'Simultaneously', and 'Furthermore', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing within the second paragraph is occasionally confusing, particularly when describing the location of the new barn and road. Improved use of referencing and more varied linking words would enhance the flow and logical progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some relevant terms like 'agricultural land', 'sheep grazing', and 'solar panels'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'camping filed' (likely a typo for 'field'), 'plethora of solar panels install' (should be 'installed'), and 'made in fruit trees area'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of the description. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on more natural collocations and ensure accurate word forms when describing changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical inaccuracies, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The two different maps... indicates'), incorrect preposition usage ('in 1950's'), and missing articles ('in corner of this side'). Additionally, the tense usage is inconsistent, with some confusion between describing the past state and the current state. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent tense usage and article placement would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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