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 first map shows the different features of beechwood farm in 1950 and the second one depicts the major transformation of the earlier one.
The overall construction has been expanded throughout the years. The facilities has been added for visitors to beechwood farm such as electricity production and recreational activities.
initially, there was no parkin area, solar panels, camping field, barn and holiday cottages. The solar panels are installed in northern right corner of the zone..The parking area has been introduced in south of the solar panels and front side of fruit trees crossing the road.
Although the track was already present in previous years, but it has been upgraded to a road.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you identify some key features, such as the addition of solar panels and the upgrade of the track, the report is incomplete. You have missed several significant changes, such as the removal of the original farm buildings or the specific layout of the new holiday cottages and camping area. To improve, you must provide a more comprehensive overview of all major changes shown in the diagrams, ensuring that you compare the 1950 layout with the current one in greater detail to meet the length requirement and provide a thorough summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into short paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by the lack of detail. While you use some basic cohesive devices like 'initially' and 'although', the flow between sentences is somewhat disjointed. The paragraphing is present, but the overall structure feels underdeveloped due to the brevity of the text. To achieve a higher score, ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly. The transition between the description of the 1950 map and the current map needs to be more clearly defined to guide the reader through the changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a basic range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps, such as 'transformation', 'expanded', and 'upgraded'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and limited in range. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'northern right corner' (should be 'northeast corner') and 'facilities has been added' (subject-verb agreement error). To improve, try to incorporate more precise geographical and descriptive language, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'replaced by', or 'converted into'. Expanding your vocabulary will allow you to describe the spatial relationships and changes more accurately and with greater sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that affect clarity, such as 'The facilities has been added' (should be 'have'), 'no parkin area' (spelling error), and the misuse of 'Although' in the final sentence ('Although the track was already present... but it has been upgraded' is redundant). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with double periods used in some places. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and avoid redundant conjunctions. Aim to use a wider variety of sentence structures, such as passive voice to describe the changes, while ensuring that your basic grammar remains accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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