Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-03
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 plans below show the site of a farm in the year of 1950 and the same site today.
Overall, the main difference is in the area of sheep. As first it was only sheep area but now solar panels, camping field and parking is also been added in that area. Track has been changed to road and location of barn has also been changed. Holiday cottages is also been added.
Firstly, there has been many changes since 1950. The track has changed to road so that visitors feel comfortable reaching in other areas. As the area of sheep was very large compared to other areas so now there is no area of sheep, in that area parking is added close to road and solar panels and camping field has taken that area.
Secondly, in opposite side barn place is changed and now it is close to chickens. Holiday cottages is been added in place of barn and in the area of fruit trees farm shop is also added with it. The place of vegetables and soft fruits remain same.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the farm's transformation, such as the addition of solar panels, holiday cottages, and the conversion of the track into a road. However, the response lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention the sheep area, the description is slightly inaccurate as the sheep area has been reduced rather than completely removed. Furthermore, the report could be improved by grouping features more logically—for example, contrasting the agricultural changes with the new commercial/tourism facilities. To reach a higher band, ensure that your summary highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing changes in a sequential manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to structure your points. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'in that area' which is used repeatedly. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that pronouns or demonstrative adjectives clearly refer back to the specific locations mentioned earlier. The overall structure is logical, but the transitions between the two time periods could be smoother.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the main changes effectively. You use terms like 'solar panels', 'holiday cottages', and 'farm shop' correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'area of sheep' instead of 'grazing land' or 'pasture', and 'barn place is changed' instead of 'the location of the barn has shifted'. There is also a lack of variety in your descriptive language. To improve, focus on using more precise geographical and descriptive vocabulary, such as 'converted into', 'relocated', or 'replaced by'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and passive voice constructions, such as 'Holiday cottages is also been added' and 'As first it was only sheep area'. These errors are noticeable but do not significantly impede communication. To achieve a higher band, you should work on the correct formation of passive voice (e.g., 'have been added') and ensure consistent use of articles and prepositions. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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