Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22
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 floor plan gives the layout of the site of the Beechwood Farm in 1950 and the same site today. At a glance, It is observed that there is immense change in the layout of the farm compared to the layout of the 1950.
Overall, It is observed that there is the addition of many sections in the layout such as parking, camping field , farm shop and many more.
It is observed that the location of sheep in the layout of 1950 is completely changed and there are the addition of many sections such as parking, camping field and solar panels. Moreover, it is observed that there is change in the location of the barn now there is holiday cottages instead of the barn.
The locations of the farmhouse, chickens, vegetables, soft fruits and fruit trees remained the same over 75 years. Whereas, there is an addition of the farm shop in the fruit tress section.
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 transformation, such as the addition of new facilities and the removal of the barn. However, the report lacks sufficient detail and analytical depth. For instance, it mentions the 'sheep' location has changed, but it fails to describe the new layout of the fields or the specific nature of the changes (e.g., the conversion of the barn into holiday cottages is mentioned, but the overall spatial reorganization is not fully explored). The overview is somewhat repetitive, and the report would benefit from a more structured comparison of what remained static versus what was developed. To reach a higher band, ensure all key features are clearly highlighted and compared.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical. The phrase 'It is observed that' is used at the beginning of almost every paragraph and sentence, which creates a monotonous flow. While there is a logical progression from the overview to specific details, the lack of varied linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') makes the writing feel disjointed. Improving the variety of transition signals and avoiding repetitive sentence starters would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies heavily on basic verbs like 'is' and 'changed'. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'layout', 'farmhouse', and 'holiday cottages', but the range is limited. The repetition of 'layout' and 'sections' throughout the text indicates a restricted lexical range. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise synonyms and descriptive language, such as 'transformed', 'replaced', 'redeveloped', or 'remained unchanged', to better convey the nature of the changes observed in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there are the addition of many sections' (subject-verb agreement) and 'in the fruit tress section' (spelling error). The punctuation is generally acceptable, but the reliance on simple sentence patterns limits the range. To achieve a higher band, the student should focus on using a wider variety of complex structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice constructions, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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