Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18
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 set of maps illustrate previous and today site plan of a beechwood farm.
It can be observed that in 1950, there were a barn, a farmhouse and a chickens situated in the south-east corner. In the centre track was available. In the west, a fruit trees and a soft fruits were planted. In the middle, vegetables were grown. The north side area was available for sheep.
It can be seen that in the present time, solar panels have been installed in the north-east side. Camping field has been set up in the north side. Two parking area have been constructed in the area of sheep. Farm shop has been built along with fruit trees. Track has been replaced by road and connected with barn. Barn has been replaced by holiday cottages. Position of a farmhouse and a chickens are unchanged.
Overall, although there were a limited facilities in a beechwood farm like a chickens,a farmhouse and a barn, more aminities are included such as solar panels, a parking, a holiday cottages and a farm shop.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the maps, including the changes from 1950 to the present. You have successfully identified the main developments, such as the addition of solar panels, the camping field, and the conversion of the barn into holiday cottages. However, the report could be improved by providing more precise comparisons. For instance, instead of just listing changes, you could explicitly contrast the removal of the track with the introduction of the new road. The overview is present but could be more analytical by highlighting the shift from a purely agricultural site to one that incorporates tourism and modern energy solutions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for the two time periods, and a concluding overview. The progression of information is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., starting multiple sentences with 'It can be seen that' or 'In the...'). To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect ideas more fluidly, such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in contrast to the previous layout.' Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used a range of vocabulary relevant to the task, such as 'constructed,' 'installed,' and 'replaced.' However, there are several errors in word choice and article usage that affect precision. For example, you wrote 'a chickens' (incorrect pluralization/article) and 'a parking' (should be 'a parking area'). Additionally, 'a fruit trees' is grammatically incorrect. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that nouns are used correctly with their respective articles. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'there were a barn,' 'a chickens,' 'two parking area'). These errors are noticeable but do not significantly impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization and the use of 'a/an/the.' Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The track was replaced by a road'), is a good start, but ensure these are grammatically accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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