Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25
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 map below illustrates the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.
Overall, sheep are are has been completely transformed into paring, camping fields and solar panels area. The tracks are fully developed into proper road, and farm shops, barn and holiday cottages also been developed through out the periods.
In 1950, the farm was connected with track, but now track has been developed into the roads. Previously, the space between the vegetable area and chickens area was empty, while today the barn in front of farmhouse has been transfer to that empty space, and holiday cottages has been added in recent time replacing barn.
On the other side, sheep area has been divided into two different part. solar panels on one side and camping field on another, while each section consist parking area. there is on massive tree in the camping fields along with two camping tents.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the transformation of the sheep area and the development of the road network. However, the overview is somewhat confusingly phrased, and there are inaccuracies in the description of the changes. For instance, stating that the sheep area has been 'completely transformed into paring' (likely meaning parking) and solar panels is a bit vague. The description of the barn and holiday cottages is also slightly imprecise regarding their locations. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the most significant trends—such as the shift from agricultural use to tourism and renewable energy—and provides more precise spatial descriptions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing and some mechanical use of cohesive devices. For example, the transition 'On the other side' is used, but the preceding paragraph does not clearly establish the first side. Additionally, some sentences are disjointed, such as 'there is on massive tree in the camping fields along with two camping tents,' which feels like an isolated detail rather than part of a cohesive description. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. There are several spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'paring' instead of 'parking', 'transfer' instead of 'transferred', and 'through out' instead of 'throughout'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, you should focus on using more precise terminology for map descriptions, such as 'converted into', 'replaced by', 'extended', or 'situated', and ensure that your spelling is accurate to avoid distracting the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'sheep are are has been', 'holiday cottages has been added', and 'each section consist parking area'. These errors in subject-verb agreement and tense usage are persistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that tenses are used consistently, will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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