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 plan illustrates the difference between a farm site in the 1950 and the same farm site today.

The farm site has changes a lot but the major changes are the changes are accommodation, parking facilities, holiday cottages and camping field.

The site in the 1950 areas for fruits and vegetables are provided. Along side these areas there is a track and on the other side of the track is a area for sheeps. There is a river on the other side of the fruit and vegetable area. A farmhouse and a area for chickens on the uper side of the river is also seen.

The site today in seen with the river still present, the chicken area remains same. The track has been converted into a road, in the fruit trees area a fram shop has been added. The sheep area has been converted to camping field and parking spot with solar panels on the other half. the bran has transformed to holiday cottage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the conversion of the sheep area and the addition of the farm shop. However, the overview is somewhat weak, as it merely lists changes rather than highlighting the most significant trends, such as the shift from agricultural production to commercial tourism. While the key features are identified, the description of the 1950s layout is slightly repetitive and lacks a cohesive summary of the overall transformation. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly synthesizes the major changes rather than just listing them, and provide a more precise comparison between the two time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the 1950s to the present day. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and mechanical. Phrases like 'The site in the 1950' and 'The site today' are used to signal shifts, but there is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas within paragraphs. Some sentences feel disjointed, and the referencing (e.g., 'the chicken area remains same') is occasionally awkward. Improving the flow by using a wider range of transition signals would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of repetitive phrasing, such as 'area' and 'site', which are used frequently. Additionally, there are some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'sheeps' (the plural of sheep is sheep), 'uper' (upper), and 'bran' (barn). The language is functional but does not demonstrate the flexibility or range required for a higher band. Incorporating more specific terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed into', 'replaced by', or 'situated to the north', would strengthen the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'The farm site has changes a lot' should be 'has changed', and 'The site today in seen' is grammatically incorrect. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which limits the grammatical range. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in verb tense and preposition usage prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be a beneficial next step.

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