Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02
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 diagram illustrates the beechwood farm site in 1950 and compares it with today´s beechwood farm.
overall it shows a significant development in todays farm site when compared with 1950s.
During 1950, when we move along the river we pass through different sites. For example the fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables when we turn round there is a chickens farmhouse with a barn afterwards. All these sites accompanied by a track opposite of which has sheep site.
Today there has been significant development resulting in replacement of tracks with roads with parking side by side and a barn is developed after the triangular shaped road. While the bran site of 1950 has been taken away by holiday cottages .The sheep area is parted into two , one for solar panels and second for camping filed. There is also a farm shop opposite to the fruit trees along the road.
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, including the transition from agricultural use to tourism-oriented facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant changes, such as the shift from farming to commercial/leisure activities. While you identify specific changes like the addition of solar panels and holiday cottages, the reporting of the 1950s layout is a bit narrative rather than comparative. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the primary transformation of the site rather than just listing features. The response addresses the prompt, but the lack of a more sophisticated summary limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the past to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally repetitive. Phrases like 'During 1950' and 'Today there has been' are functional but lack variety. Additionally, the transition between sentences within the second paragraph is slightly disjointed, particularly when moving from the description of the barn to the holiday cottages. Improving the flow by using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would enhance the logical progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the features of the farm effectively. You use some relevant terms like 'solar panels', 'holiday cottages', and 'triangular shaped road'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'chickens farmhouse' (which should be 'chicken coop' or 'poultry shed') and 'camping filed' (a spelling error for 'field'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on simple descriptors. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'converted into', 'demolished', or 'extended'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the barn is developed' (should be 'a barn was developed') and 'the bran site' (a typo for 'barn'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect capitalization in the opening. The use of articles is occasionally inaccurate, such as 'a chickens farmhouse'. To improve, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as the report requires a clear distinction between past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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