Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The two maps compare the layout of Beechwood Farm in 1950 with its present-day appearance.
Overall, Beechwood Farm has undergone considerable redevelopment. While the fruit trees, soft fruits, vegetables and farmhouse have remained in the same locations, several facilities have been added or modernised, and some areas have been converted for commercial and tourism purposes.
In 1950, the track of the beechwood farm contained fruit trees, soft fruits, vegetables, a barn, a sheep area and a chicken area.
Today, a number of significant changes can be seen. The barn area has been relocated further to the left side of the farmhouse and chicken area. New solar panels, parking, a camping field, a farm shop have been built. An additional track has been converted into a road. Moreover, a block of holiday cottages has also been constructed.
Meanwhile, the fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables remain largely unchanged, as does the farmhouse and chicken area. The most notable redevelopment on the top right corner of the map is the transformation. Overall, Beechwood Farm has become more modern and visitor-friendly.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively covers the main features of the maps, providing a clear overview of the changes from 1950 to the present. You successfully identified key developments such as the addition of solar panels, a farm shop, and holiday cottages. However, the description of the 'barn area' is slightly inaccurate as the map shows the barn was replaced by a farm shop and parking, rather than just being relocated. Additionally, while you mention the 'top right corner', you do not explicitly describe what that transformation entails (the removal of the sheep area for holiday cottages). To reach a higher band, ensure all spatial changes are described with precise detail.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the past from the present. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Moreover', and 'While' helps to guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the farm's development. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, though the transition between the third and fourth paragraphs could be slightly more seamless to improve the flow of information regarding the specific structural changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'modernised', and 'visitor-friendly'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally accurate. However, there are some minor issues with collocation and precision, such as 'the track of the beechwood farm', which sounds unnatural. Using more precise geographical or descriptive language would enhance the quality of your writing. Overall, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly without significant errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'a farm shop have been built', where the subject-verb agreement is incorrect (it should be 'has been built'). Additionally, the phrase 'the track of the beechwood farm' is slightly awkward. Despite these minor issues, your grammatical control is strong, and the errors do not impede communication. Increasing the variety of complex structures could help elevate this score further.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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