Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-20
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 plan below display the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.
Overall, In 1950 the sheep cover a large area. Meanwhile, after changes solar panels and parking was located there. In previous, Beechwood Farm no special things were added. In spite of that, restyled farm shows dramatic changes which includes parking, farm shop, barn, solar panels, and agricultural zone.
To begin with, Beechwood Farm in 1950 wasn't well styled. Whereas, it usually shows tracks and river. Moreover, it highlights the Farmhouse and the agricultural track present near it. In addition, it also shows agricultural blocks like vegetables, soft fruits. All these crops are cultivated in specific sector near the north-east.
As we compare, the site of a farm added various equipment of technology. Furthermore, near the crops sector a farm shop is located. The previous farm don't have camping field but, the new farm have it. Two camping fields with parking lode is attached. The boundaries for wildlife is separated from parking and now attached with Farmhouse.
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 the main features of the two maps, identifying key changes such as the addition of the farm shop, solar panels, and camping fields. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are mentioned, the comparison between 1950 and the present day is hindered by imprecise language (e.g., 'wasn't well styled'). To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping information more logically—perhaps by comparing the layout of the farm buildings versus the land usage—rather than listing features in a way that feels slightly repetitive or disconnected.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' is somewhat formulaic and occasionally used incorrectly (e.g., 'In previous' or 'As we compare'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial progression of the farm. Improving the use of cohesive devices to show logical relationships rather than just acting as list markers would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic descriptors like 'special things' and 'restyled', which do not accurately convey the nature of the changes shown in the maps. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'parking lode' (likely meaning 'lot') and 'agricultural zone'. To improve, try to use more specific terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'situated', or 'replaced', and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate for an academic report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the sheep cover', 'the previous farm don't have') and awkward phrasing ('the new farm have it'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage (past for 1950, present for current) is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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