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 CHANGES OF 1950 AND CURRENT STATE OF BEACHWOOD FARM. THE NEW CHANGES OF BEACHWOOD FARM ARE QUIET EXTENSIVE BECAUSE IT INCLUDES A LOT OF FEATURES AND FACILITIES FOR TOURISM AND GREEN ENERGY, WHILE RETAINING IT'S ORIGINAL FRUIT PRODUCTION.
BEFORE THE REDESIGN, THE BEACHWOOD FARM HAD A SHEEP LOCATION ONLY ON THE NORTH SIDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, FRUIT TREES, SOFT FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES WERE SITUATED ALONG THE TRACK AND RIVER IS RUNNING AROUND THE SOUTH SIDE. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE CORNER OF THE RIVER THERE WERE CHICKENS, FARM HOUSE AND BARN ARE IN THE EAST SIDE OF BEACHWOOD FARM.
THE PRESENT LAYOUT SETTING OF THE BEACHWOOD FARM INCLUDES A LOT OF RESOURCES AND FACILITIES, SUCH AS CAMPING FIELD, AND THERE IS A TREE, PARKING PLACE AS WELL. AND SOLAR PANELS INSTALLATION WITH PARKING THAT NEWLY ADDED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAMPING FIELD. FURTHER MORE, THE NEW ROAD WITH BARN REPLACING THE TRACK THAT ACROSS THE CENTER OF BEACHWOOD FARM. AND THE OLD BARN WAS CONVERTED INTO HOLIDAY COTTAGES. IN ADDITION THE FRUIT TREES AREA THAT HAVE NEW FARM SHOP AS WELL.
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, including the addition of tourism facilities and green energy. However, the overview is slightly weak; while it mentions the changes are extensive, it could more clearly highlight the shift from a purely agricultural site to a diversified one. The description of the 1950 layout is accurate, but the current layout description is somewhat cluttered. To improve, ensure that comparisons between the two time periods are more explicit, rather than just listing features. The response successfully identifies the key changes, such as the conversion of the barn and the addition of solar panels, meeting the core requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for this task. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'and' to start or link sentences. Some transitions, like 'subsequently' and 'additionally', are used correctly, but the flow between ideas could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the progression of ideas feel a bit disjointed at times. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would help the text flow more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the farm's features clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'extensive' and 'converted', which are used appropriately. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'sheep location' (instead of 'sheep area' or 'pasture') and 'layout setting'. Additionally, the use of 'quiet' instead of 'quite' is a spelling error that slightly impacts the professional tone. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on more precise terminology related to maps and spatial descriptions.
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 several grammatical errors, such as 'the river is running around' (should be 'ran' or 'runs'), 'barn are in the east side' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'that across the center' (missing verb). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentence fragments and missing articles. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage 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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