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)
This diagram illustrate the change in the site of the farm in 1950 and the same site today
Overall ,we can see there is incredible change in these years .Fruit, trees ,pathway ,river, chickens, soft fruits and farmhouse are at the exact same place as it was before now.
However in 1950,the picture represent there was not that much things than now. There was the Foothpath and its now in exactly same place beside the fruit trees river at the lower side is at the same location and also farmhouse, soft fruits, chickens are found at the same condition
In constrait ,many other things subsequently change. For instance there used to be a track which is now converted into massive road because of the road there is also parking beside the pathway. The place of sheep turns out to be a camping field. There is also a farm shop with fruit tress which was not present before. Now we have solar panels too and with it there is parking as well. With the road there is holiday cottage moreover the road turns into two ways which go at the exact place which is called barn.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying both the static elements and the significant changes. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in reporting. For example, stating that 'Fruit, trees, pathway, river, chickens, soft fruits and farmhouse are at the exact same place' is a broad generalization that misses the opportunity to describe the spatial layout more professionally. The overview is present but could be more analytical. To improve, focus on grouping features logically (e.g., infrastructure changes vs. agricultural changes) rather than listing them in a way that feels slightly disjointed. The summary of changes is accurate, but the development of these points is limited by the informal tone.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly awkward. Phrases like 'In constrait' (spelling error) and 'For instance' are used, but the flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'the picture represent there was not that much things than now,' which lacks a clear logical connection to the previous sentence. Paragraphing is present, but the internal progression of ideas within the paragraphs could be smoother. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words will help achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'not that much things' instead of 'fewer features' or 'not as many facilities.' The term 'massive road' is slightly informal for an academic report. Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'constrait' (contrast) and 'tress' (trees). While the student successfully identifies key features like 'solar panels' and 'camping field,' the range of vocabulary is limited, and the phrasing often sounds repetitive or simplistic rather than academic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('This diagram illustrate', 'the picture represent') and awkward phrasing ('the road turns into two ways which go at the exact place'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and refining sentence structure will significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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