Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-24
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 plans illustrates the site of Beachwood farm in 1950 and the same site today.
In 1950, there was an enormous patch of land just for the sheep. However, that plot of land is now occupied for various other purposes such as a parking has been built for vehicles on both corners of the land. Moreover, a camping field is established for people as well as solar panels are installed in the remaining field of land.
We can also evidently see that the track has been replaced by the road. Moreover, the positioning of the barn has also been changed. Earlier it was on the side whereas, now it is placed in the middle and connected by the road at both ends. A farming shop is also established near the fruit trees. Near the farmhouse, a holiday cottage has been set up in place of the old barn. The new holiday cottage could help in an increase of activity in the farm.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 change from sheep land to camping and solar panels, and the road development. However, it lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher. The description of the barn's relocation is slightly confusing, and the mention of 'increase of activity' is speculative rather than a report of the visual data provided. To improve, ensure you include a distinct overview sentence that highlights the most significant changes, such as the shift from agricultural to recreational and energy-focused land use.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into two paragraphs, but the logical flow is somewhat mechanical. While cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'However' are used, they are repetitive. The transition between the description of the land and the specific buildings is abrupt. The paragraphing is also unbalanced, with the second paragraph containing a mix of disparate points about the road, barn, and shop. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') and grouping related features together would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'occupied', 'established', and 'positioning'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'an enormous patch of land just for the sheep' (which is informal) and 'a parking has been built' (which is grammatically incorrect). There is little attempt to use more sophisticated or precise vocabulary related to map descriptions, such as 'converted', 'demolished', or 'redeveloped'. Expanding the range of descriptive verbs and nouns would help achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'The plans illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error), 'a parking has been built' (incorrect article/noun usage), and 'a camping field is established' (tense inconsistency). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.