Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-31

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 plan shows a Beechwood Farm from 1950s and compared it with todays plan. There has been a significant change in farm on some sites but some areas remain almost similar in the course of more then 70 years.

The first notable thing is the upper right area that has been changed significantly. In 1950, it was only dedicated to Sheep, but now the whole region has been divided in subsection. The area now has Parking, Camping Field with tents and trees, and even Solar Panels for energy generation. Fruit Trees region is almost identical with only an addition of Farm shop which was not visible in 1950. The Barn is still present, but its location is changed and space has also been reduced. The previous place of Barn has been replaced by three equal sized holiday cottages. Farmhouse and Chickens section has not been modified.

Overall 60% of farm is identical to the 1950s version.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the changes in the sheep area and the relocation of the barn. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the addition of a farm shop and solar panels, you miss other significant details like the removal of the sheep area entirely or the specific layout changes to the access road. The conclusion regarding '60% of the farm' is an estimation that is not supported by the data provided, which is a common pitfall in Task 1. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of all major changes rather than focusing on specific sections, and avoid making unsupported statistical claims.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three short paragraphs, which is acceptable but lacks a clear, cohesive structure. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed; for example, jumping from the upper right area to the fruit trees and then back to the barn makes the description feel like a list rather than a coherent report. While you use some cohesive devices like 'The first notable thing' and 'Overall', the transitions between sentences are often mechanical. To improve, use more varied linking words to connect the changes logically and ensure each paragraph has a clear thematic focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use basic terms like 'changed significantly', 'almost identical', and 'not modified'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'divided in subsection' (should be 'divided into subsections') and 'more then 70 years' (should be 'more than'). To reach a higher band, incorporate more precise descriptive language related to map changes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'redeveloped', or 'remained unchanged'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. For instance, 'a Beechwood Farm' (should be 'Beechwood Farm'), 'todays plan' (should be 'today's plan'), and 'location is changed' (should be 'location has changed'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositions, such as 'in 1950s' (should be 'in the 1950s'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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