Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04

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 development of farm site in 1950 and progress present time

Overall, the major changes seen in the map is the Sheep area, It has a lot addition like camping and solar panels with two parking slot on both the side of the area. track path converted into road, barn is shifted and replaced by holiday cottages and remaining places unchanged.

On the one hand, Sheep farm is changed into a full flesh camping field with solar panels beside the field. Furthermore, addition of two vehicle parking area on both start and end of the camping site.

Mud track is converted into proper concreate road, which is connected to main highway.

On the other hand, fruit trees added farm shop on entrance barn replaced to holiday cottages and shifted to chicken farm along roadside. Soft fruits and vegetable field and farmhouse till now remained unchanged.

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 changes to the road and barn. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall development of the task. While the key changes are identified, the description lacks sufficient detail and precision in reporting the spatial relationships. Some features, such as the specific location of the new farm shop, are mentioned but could be described more clearly in relation to the original layout. The summary is functional but lacks the depth required for a higher band score.

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 somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand,' which are better suited for argumentative essays rather than describing maps. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when describing the movement of the barn and the addition of the farm shop, making the spatial description feel slightly disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'full flesh camping field' (likely meaning 'full-fledged') and 'two parking slot on both the side'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, you should focus on using more precise terminology for map descriptions, such as 'transformed,' 'relocated,' 'demolished,' or 'extended.' Spelling and word choice errors, while not completely impeding communication, are frequent enough to limit the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the development of farm site'), incorrect verb forms ('barn is shifted'), and punctuation issues. The sentence structure is often fragmented, which affects the flow of the report. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of minor errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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