Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-28
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 maps give information about the site of a farm , how it looked in 1950 and how many changes have appeared as compared to 1950 .
Overall, there are a lot of differences in the site. Major contrast is the development of the road and the sheep area has changed as well. However, fruit trees ,soft fruits and vegetable still in their places.
In 1950, a track is used but now instead of track there is a developed road comprising the same place. The sheep area has transformed into new several areas such as a parking area,camping field , a large tree, and solar panels installed in that site. The fruit trees are still in the same spot . However, there is an addition of a farm shop.
The barn on the right side has got a new spot at the lowest end of a road and attached to it. And there are holdiay cottages in place of the barn in 1950. In contrast there is no change in the location of the chicken area and farmhouse.
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 provides a clear overview and identifies the main changes, such as the road development and the transformation of the sheep area. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial relationships. For instance, stating the barn is 'attached to it' is vague, and the description of the sheep area as having 'a large tree' is a minor detail rather than a main feature. While the key changes are covered, the comparison between 1950 and the present could be more analytical. The summary of the site's evolution is generally accurate, but it would benefit from more specific directional language to help the reader visualize the layout changes more effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the changes. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'In contrast', and 'In 1950', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'attached to it', which does not clearly define what the barn is attached to. The progression of ideas is generally logical, moving from the road to the sheep area and then to the buildings, which provides a coherent structure for the reader to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes clearly. Words like 'transformed', 'comprising', and 'addition' are used appropriately. However, there are some awkward collocations and minor errors, such as 'holdiay' (spelling) and 'new several areas', which should be 'several new areas'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the sophistication or precision required for a higher band. More varied terminology for describing spatial changes, such as 'converted into', 'replaced by', or 'situated at', would improve the lexical quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'a track is used' (should be 'was used'), 'vegetable still in their places' (missing verb 'are'), and 'the barn... has got a new spot' (informal phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The control of tense is inconsistent, particularly when shifting between the past state and the current state. Improving the accuracy of verb forms and ensuring subject-verb agreement would significantly enhance the grammatical quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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