Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-14

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 layout of Beechwood farm in 1950 and the same site arrangement today .

Overall the, Beechwood farm has been modernized

considerably. While the areas used for the farmhouse, the river, the chickens, the fruit trees, the soft fruits, the vegetables have remained unchanged. In 1950 the Beechwood farm was quite simple with a large area for sheep .Fruit trees ,soft fruit and vegetables were located on the side of the river . A separate farmhouse where chickens are there and a barn and a connected track .Today, a lot of new things have been added . The extended area for sheep has been partitioned by the parking in both the sides and one side there is a camping field and trees and on the other side solar panels are installed . The track has been replaced by the road connected to a barn . Farm shop has been added next to the fruit trees ,,soft fruits and vegetables . Holiday cottages have been build .

Overall it is apparent that all the amendments are made to make this farm visitor friendly .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the maps, such as the modernization of the farm and the addition of visitor-focused facilities. However, the response lacks a clear overview of the spatial changes. While you mention that the farmhouse and river remained unchanged, you incorrectly state that the chickens and vegetables remained unchanged; the maps show the chickens were removed and the vegetable area was significantly altered. Furthermore, the description of the layout is somewhat disorganized, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the changes. To improve, ensure you group information logically (e.g., permanent features vs. new additions) and verify the accuracy of your observations against the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'and' to connect clauses. There are also issues with punctuation, specifically the double commas used in 'trees ,,soft fruits' and the lack of spacing after some punctuation marks. The transition between the description of the 1950 layout and the modern layout is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to guide the reader through the comparison, and ensure your paragraphing is consistent and clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on simple descriptors like 'new things' and 'amendments', which are not ideal for describing map changes. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'site arrangement' and 'connected track'. To improve, incorporate more specific terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you describe the changes more naturally and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'where chickens are there' is awkward, and 'have been build' is an incorrect passive construction (should be 'built'). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'the parking in both the sides'. Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for common errors like verb tense consistency and proper punctuation usage.

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

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