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, and 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 in the top right corner of the map is the transformation. Overall, Beechwood Farm has become more modern and visitor-friendly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the maps, providing a clear overview of the changes from 1950 to the present. You have effectively highlighted the key additions, such as the solar panels and holiday cottages, while noting the elements that remained constant. The comparison between the two time periods is logical and well-supported by the visual data. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, describing the 'top right corner' transformation could be more specific regarding what exactly replaced the previous features to provide a more comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general changes to specific details. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Moreover', and 'Today' are used appropriately to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is sufficient and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. The structure is coherent throughout, making the information easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'modernised', 'converted', and 'transformed'. The language is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would characterize a higher band. For example, instead of 'remained in the same locations', you could use 'remained stationary' or 'retained their original positions'. Overall, the lexical range is adequate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are no significant errors that impede meaning. You have used passive voice effectively to describe the changes (e.g., 'have been added', 'has been converted'), which is appropriate for this type of task. To improve, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional or concessive clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.

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

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