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 diagram illustrates the site of Beechwood farm over two different time period (1950 and today).

It depicts the changes happened over time at the farm. We do see drastic development in-terms of transportation and other utilities.

In 1950, tracks were being used within the farm which connected different crops and fruits with farmhouse together. On the west of farmhouse, vegetables, soft fruits and fruit trees were cultivated whereas on North, there was an empty area used by sheeps which got demolished completely at today's time. Just behind farmhouse, chickens farm was the

Currently, the tracks are converted to proper roads. The north side of farm is being used as camping field, parking and for solar panel setups. A farm shop is built just beside the main road and just opposite of it have a parking now. Holiday cottages has been built at today's time just beside the road within the farm and just opposite of it has the parking.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the farm's transformation, such as the conversion of tracks to roads and the addition of new facilities like the farm shop and holiday cottages. However, the description is incomplete; the final sentence of the third paragraph is cut off, and the overview is quite basic. While the main trends are identified, the comparison between the two periods could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure all sentences are complete and provide a more comprehensive summary of the spatial changes, ensuring the overview highlights the most significant shifts rather than just listing features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from 1950 to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. There are issues with referencing and flow, particularly in the transition between the description of the 1950s and the current layout. The abrupt ending of the third paragraph significantly disrupts the coherence of the text. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensuring that ideas are fully developed within each paragraph would improve the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'cultivated', 'demolished', and 'converted'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'at today's time' (repeatedly used) and 'chickens farm'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, you should aim for more precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'replaced by', 'situated in the northern sector', or 'undergone significant redevelopment'. Expanding your range of collocations will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempts at complex structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('sheeps', 'Holiday cottages has been built') and awkward prepositional usage ('in-terms of'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, and the incomplete sentence at the end of the third paragraph is a significant error that impacts the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct pluralisation, and ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb. Proofreading for these basic errors would significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

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

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