Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19

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 IMAGE ILLUSTRATES THE 1950 AND CURRENT STATE OF BEACHWOOD FARM. THE NEW CHANGES OF BEACHWOOD FARM ARE QUITE GOOD BECAUSE IT INCLUDES A LOT OF FEATURES AND FACILITIES OF USING THE FREE LAND.

BEFORE THE REDESIGN, THE BEACHWOOD FARM HAD A FREE AREA IN THE NORTH SIDE THAT HAD SHEEP LOCATION ONLY. AND THEN A FRUIT TREES, SOFT FRUITS, VEGETABLES THERE ARE BETWEEN THE TRACK AND RIVER IS RUNNING AROUND THE SOUTH SIDE. AT THE CORNER OF RIVER THERE WERE CHICKENS, FARM HOUSE, BARN ARE IN THE EAST SIDE OF BEACHWOOD FARM.

THE PRESENT SETTING OF THE BEACHWOOD FARM IT INCLUDES A LOT OF RESOURCES AND FACILITIES, SUCH AS CAMPING FIELD, AND THERE IS A TREE, PARKING PLACE AS WELL AND NEW SOLAR PANELS AREA WITH PARKING THAT NEWLY ADDED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAMPING FIELD. AND THE NEW ROAD WITH BARN REPLACING A TRACK THAT ACROSS THE CENTER OF BEACHWOOD FARM. THE OLD BARN HAS BEEN CHANGED INTO HOLIDAY COTTAGE. AND IN THE FRUIT TREES AREA HAVE NEW FARM SHOP AS WELL.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the farm in 1950 and the present day. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. The overview provided in the first paragraph is subjective ('quite good') rather than a summary of the key trends, such as the shift from agricultural production to tourism. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the two periods could be more precise. For example, the mention of 'sheep location' and 'fruit trees' is clear, but the report lacks a cohesive summary of the overall transformation of the site's purpose.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a report. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'And then' and 'At the corner of' are used to link sentences, which feels repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the connection between the 1950 description and the current state could be smoother. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'in the fruit trees area have new farm shop', where the subject is missing or poorly linked to the previous context.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is a reliance on basic descriptors like 'new', 'good', and 'area'. Some word choices are awkward or non-standard, such as 'sheep location' instead of 'grazing area' or 'sheep pasture'. The phrase 'facilities of using the free land' is also unnatural. While the student successfully identifies specific features like 'solar panels' and 'holiday cottage', the overall range is limited, and there are instances of imprecise collocation that hinder the sophistication of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there are between the track and river is running' (incorrect clause structure), 'in the east side' (preposition error), and 'in the fruit trees area have new farm shop' (missing subject and article). While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors in basic sentence construction and article usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Punctuation is generally functional but lacks variety.

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

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