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 given map illustrates the information about site of farm in 1950 and the same site today.
Overall, there is a development of parking, solar panels and camping field in today,s map of beechwood farm. After adding some places in today map it looked more developed area.
To begin with, in 1950 beechwood farm was not that much developed such as solar panels were not there and parking issues for vehicle. Moreover, tracks were converted into roads in today map. In 1950, most of the area was covered by sheep.
On the other hand, the area of ship is used for different purposes, such as it is used for two camping field including parking of camping field.Some space is used of solar panels they install a four panels to produce electricity. Also they replace barn into holidays cottages. And barn shifted on the end of two roads. It installed a farm shop in fruit trees farm.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| 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 addition of solar panels, the camping field, and the conversion of the barn. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the mention of 'sheep' being replaced is a good observation, but the spatial relationships (e.g., the location of the new roads or the farm shop) are described vaguely. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes, such as the shift from a purely agricultural site to a more commercial/tourist-oriented one. To improve, ensure that all major changes are clearly identified and compared with the original layout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'To begin with' and 'On the other hand' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'the area of ship' (likely meaning sheep) and the confusing description of the barn's relocation. The progression of ideas is present but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and contains several errors that occasionally impede clarity. Phrases like 'not that much developed' and 'parking issues for vehicle' are imprecise. There are also spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'ship' instead of 'sheep' and 'today,s' instead of 'today's'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message but lacks the precision and variety needed to describe geographical changes effectively. To reach a higher band, focus on using more specific terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'situated', or 'replaced'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('they install a four panels'), missing articles ('in fruit trees farm'), and awkward phrasing ('the area of ship is used for different purposes'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation (such as the comma usage in 'today,s') prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on sentence construction and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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