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)
We have two plans showing the farm site in 1950 and how it has changed in current times. Both plans show a river with fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetables planted in rows alongside it. These features have remained unchanged from 1950 to the present day. However, a new farm shop has been built near the fruit trees.
In 1950 plan, there were plain tracks dividing the areas which have now been replaced with roads. Alongside the road, there are chickens and a farmhouse nearby which are situated from 1950. With the farmhouse, there is a development of Holiday cottages today, although in 1950 there was a barn which is now located in the middle of vegetables and chickes attached with a road.
On the other side of the road and tracks, there is alot of new developments now. In 1950, that area was covered with sheeps only. Today, there is a parking area with a camping field in the middle and one side consisting of solar panels.
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 provides a clear overview and identifies key changes, such as the addition of the farm shop, holiday cottages, and solar panels. However, the description of the 1950 layout is somewhat confusing, particularly regarding the barn and the tracks. While the main features are covered, the comparison between the two time periods lacks precision in spatial referencing. For example, stating the barn is 'now located in the middle of vegetables' is unclear, as the barn was removed. The response would benefit from a more structured approach to grouping the changes (e.g., infrastructure, agricultural use, and new facilities) to ensure all parts of the task are fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'With the farmhouse, there is a development of Holiday cottages today' is awkward and does not clearly link the ideas. Referencing is also inconsistent; the phrase 'that area' in the final paragraph is vague. While there is an overall logical arrangement, the flow between sentences is sometimes interrupted by grammatical errors, which affects the smoothness of the reading experience.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the farm features. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'solar panels' and 'holiday cottages'. However, there are several errors in word choice and form, such as 'sheeps' (the plural of sheep is sheep) and 'chickes' (spelling error). The phrase 'in current times' is slightly unnatural in this context. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for spatial descriptions and ensuring correct pluralisation and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'which are situated from 1950' (incorrect preposition/tense) and 'chickes attached with a road' (unclear meaning). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic grammatical slips would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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