Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-01
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 pictures are about the changes in the plan of the Beechwood Farm.
Overall, it is about the difference and changes in Beechwood Farm from nineteen fifty to today.
In nineteen fifty, the Beechwoof Farm contains a track starting with fruit trees. After we moving forward on the track we saw soft fruits and vegetable harvests. Then the track moving in a triangle shape. Moving on to left we saw Barn, Farmhouse and Chickens. There is a river flowing on the back of the track.
Today, the track looks so different like now the track changes into a road. In the start of that road we got parking and Camping fields on the left side of the road. On the ride side of the road, there is Farm shop with Fruit trees. On moving forward on the road, we saw Holiday cottages and Farmhouse on the right side. On the left side, there is another parking space and with that space we saw some Solar panels as well.
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 transition from a track to a road and the addition of new facilities like the holiday cottages and solar panels. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. The summary provided in the second paragraph is quite basic. To improve, you should focus on grouping information more logically (e.g., comparing the agricultural focus of 1950 with the tourism-oriented focus of today) rather than simply listing features in a sequential, narrative style. The comparison between the two time periods is present but could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is repetitive. You rely heavily on simple transition phrases like 'Moving on to left' or 'On the right side of the road'. The use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical, which hinders the logical progression of the description. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, such as 'In contrast to the original layout,' or 'Furthermore, the area has been repurposed to include...'. Improving the referencing (e.g., using 'the latter' or 'this area') would also enhance the cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'pictures', 'changes', and 'saw'. There is a lack of topic-specific vocabulary related to map description, such as 'situated', 'replaced', 'converted', or 'adjacent'. While the meaning is clear, the lexical range is limited, and there are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'On the ride side' (should be 'right side') and 'In the start of that road' (should be 'At the start'). Expanding your vocabulary to include more descriptive and precise terms will significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses mostly simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often grammatically flawed, such as 'After we moving forward on the track we saw...'. There are frequent errors in verb tense consistency (e.g., 'the track changes into a road' instead of 'the track has been changed into a road') and preposition usage. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of sentence structures, including passive voice, which is highly appropriate for describing changes in maps. Ensure that your verb tenses are consistent when describing past states versus current ones.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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