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 provided maps illustrates the architectural changes of Beechwood Farm from 1950 to today.

Overall, the farm underwent several changes, most notably the parking and other facilities like camping and cottage have been added while the farmhouse, fruits and vegetables remained in their original locations.

Before the redesign, north west side of farm had area for sheep which is now replaced with different facilities like solar panels, camping area and two parking. Tracks have been replaced with proper roads. Holiday cottages are build near farmhouses, and near farmhouses there is barn added. A new farm shop is added inside the Fruit Trees area.

Fruit trees, soft fruits along with vegetables remained in their same locations. A barn is added near the areas of chickens.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the farm's transformation, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You mention the addition of facilities like the camping area and solar panels, but the description lacks sufficient detail and comparative depth. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the spatial changes and quantify or describe the extent of the developments more thoroughly. Because the response is under-length, it cannot fully develop the required information, leading to a lower band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of changes. You use an introductory sentence and an overview, followed by body paragraphs that group information by location and type of change. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and mechanical. Phrases like 'Before the redesign' and 'In addition' (or similar transitions) could be used more effectively to link ideas between sentences. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between the third and fourth paragraphs is slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. You use basic terms like 'added', 'replaced', and 'remained', which are repetitive. While you correctly identify features such as 'solar panels' and 'holiday cottages', there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or varied descriptive language. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to maps and changes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'redeveloped', or 'situated'. Additionally, ensure you use accurate terminology for the features shown in the diagrams.

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 distract the reader. For example, 'The provided maps illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error), 'two parking' (should be 'parking spaces'), and 'Holiday cottages are build' (incorrect verb tense/form). There are also missing articles, such as 'north west side of farm' (should be 'the north-west side of the farm'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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