Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-17
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 given picture shows the difference between the plan of the Beachwood farm in 1950 and also from today . We cam see there is a lot of development happened after 1950.
By comparing, the farm in 1950 was a basic farm with less facilities as compared to today's farm. As we can see earlier there was only a fruit trees but now there is a small farm shop at the corner of fruit trees. Also the tracks in 1950 are developed and converted into roads. Furthermore the left side of farmhouse had a merged track which had a blank area, now has a barn . And the barn earlier in 1950 is now converted into holiday cottages.
Later comparing we can see the plot of sheep's in early 1950 is now turned into a parking area with camping fields with some trees. The farm can be seen developed as they have added a solar panels for having a good source of electricity in the field
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 farm's transformation, such as the addition of the farm shop, the conversion of the barn into cottages, and the introduction of solar panels. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. Some details are slightly inaccurate or vague, such as referring to the 'plot of sheep's' (which is not clearly identified as such in the source) and the description of the tracks. To improve, ensure you provide a concise summary paragraph that highlights the overall trend of development from a working farm to a more commercial/tourist-oriented site.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into three paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the description. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'By comparing', 'Later comparing'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'the left side of farmhouse had a merged track which had a blank area', which makes the spatial relationship difficult to visualise. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between sentences is smoother would help elevate the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate to describe the changes, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'less facilities' (should be 'fewer facilities') and 'plot of sheep's' (which is grammatically incorrect). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors like 'developed' and 'converted'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'replaced', 'extended', or 'demolished', and ensure correct pluralisation and possessive usage.
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 occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'We cam see there is a lot of development happened' (should be 'has happened'), 'there was only a fruit trees' (should be 'there were only fruit trees'), and 'added a solar panels' (should be 'added solar panels'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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