Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The map illustrates the site of a Beechwood Farm from 1950 to the present

Overall, the farm has currently undergone developments such as parking, solar panels, a farmhouse, a farm shop, a camping ground, roads, and holiday cottages, while in some cases—such as rivers, vegetables, soft fruits, and fruit trees—there has been no change in the current state. The present layout is more developed than the one in 1950.

In 1950, there was a big sheep space in the northeast area. The track was located in the east to west area. Moreover, a dirt road was located in the northwest side and many fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables were located in the center area. A barn, farmhouse, and chickens were located on the east sides, but a river flowed from east to west.

In the present, the Beechwood Farm has undergone many changes. The sheep area has been replaced by solar panels, camping field, and a parking area, and a new farm shop is included in the plan. The barn gets replaced by holiday cottages, while another parking area has been built in the east area. The farmhouse, chickens, soft fruits, fruit trees, vegetables, dirt road, and a river remain unchanged. However, the barn is moved to the road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the map and provided a clear comparison between 1950 and the present day. You covered all the key changes, such as the introduction of solar panels and the camping ground, while noting the elements that remained unchanged. To reach a higher band, ensure your overview is more analytical; instead of just listing changes, try to group them by theme (e.g., the shift from agricultural use to tourism/leisure). Additionally, ensure your descriptions of location are precise; for example, 'east to west area' is slightly vague. Overall, you have provided a solid summary that addresses the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary of changes. You use cohesive devices such as 'In 1950', 'Moreover', and 'In the present' to guide the reader through the timeline. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the 'unchanged' features more effectively rather than listing them at the end. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be smoother to create a more cohesive narrative. Overall, the structure is easy to follow and supports the information presented.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergone developments', 'replaced', and 'remain unchanged'. However, there is some repetition of basic words like 'area' and 'located'. To improve, try to use more precise spatial vocabulary (e.g., 'situated in the northern quadrant', 'adjacent to', 'occupying the site of'). There are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'big sheep space', which is not natural; 'large sheep enclosure' or 'pasture' would be more appropriate. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and nouns related to land use will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to understand, though there are occasional errors in article usage and prepositional phrases (e.g., 'in the east to west area'). Your control of verb tenses is generally good, effectively switching between the past tense for 1950 and the present perfect for changes that have occurred. While there are some minor grammatical slips, they do not impede communication. To aim for a higher band, try to incorporate more varied complex sentence structures to describe the changes in the layout.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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