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 grounds 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 the 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 effectively covers the requirements of the task by identifying the main features of the farm in both 1950 and the present day. You have successfully highlighted the key changes, such as the addition of tourism facilities and the relocation of the barn. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the overall transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure that you provide more precise spatial descriptions; for example, instead of saying 'left side', you could specify 'to the west of the farmhouse'. Additionally, ensure all features mentioned in the prompt are accounted for, as some minor details could be integrated more fluidly into the comparative analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the past and present states. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Moreover', and 'Overall' helps guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used effectively to group related ideas. To improve, try to vary the cohesive devices further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in the transition between sentences. The progression of information is logical, moving from a general summary to specific details, which makes the report easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'modernised', 'converted', and 'transformed'. This allows for a clear description of the map features. There is an awareness of style appropriate for an academic report. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations or less common lexical items related to map descriptions, such as 'encroached upon', 'dismantled', or 'situated in the periphery'. The current vocabulary is accurate and serves the purpose of the task well without any significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writing demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'While the fruit trees... have remained in the same locations, several facilities have been added'. The accuracy is generally high, with very few errors. To improve, you could experiment with more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions to describe the changes (e.g., 'A camping field has been established where the sheep area was previously located'). Overall, the grammar is strong and does not impede communication.

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

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