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 figure illustrates how beach wood farm site looks in 1950's and today.
Overall, it is clear that barn was moved to where the two separations of track merged and holiday cottages was built in its place. Above the track camping field was set up and parking was also included in today's design.
In 1950, there was no parking area but today's description shows one was built near main road while other on right side facing holiday cottages. The farm also utilized sustainable energy and solar panels were installed close to this parking spot. In contrast to 1950's where there was no camping field one was built and a tree also grew there in the field.
The area fruit trees covered in 1950's now there was a small farm shop as well close to road. The farm house and chickens area remained at same place. However, in place of Barn holiday cottages was built and barn got shifted at intersection of two road separations.
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 site changes, such as the addition of the camping field, the farm shop, and the relocation of the barn. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the reporting of specific details is occasionally inaccurate or confusing, such as the mention of a tree growing in the camping field, which is not clearly supported by the visual data. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview synthesizes the most significant trends (e.g., the transition from a purely agricultural site to a more commercial/leisure-oriented one) rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'In 1950', 'today's description', 'In contrast to 1950's'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'other on right side', which lacks a clear antecedent. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved to better group related information, such as separating the infrastructure changes from the land-use changes. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear transitions between time periods would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'two separations of track' and 'chickens area'. The use of 'today's description' is slightly unnatural in this context; 'the current layout' would be more appropriate. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'sustainable energy' and 'solar panels', the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise geographical and descriptive terminology, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'transformed into', or 'replaced by', to describe the changes more fluently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'holiday cottages was built' (subject-verb agreement error), 'at intersection of two road separations' (missing articles), and 'In 1950's' (incorrect use of apostrophe for decades). The misuse of articles ('the' vs 'a') is a recurring issue throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles will significantly improve the accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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