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)

Task-1

The provided maps illustrate the information about transformations that took place at the site of a Beechwood farm from the year 1950 to till now.

From the North side, there was a road that connects the north side to west which remained same. But, the sheep area that was beside the road, has now providing converted into myraid facilities such as parking area, camping field, Solar panels, and these cover the whole side of Northeast. In the middle central area, there was a track

path that has converted into road side.

With regard to the South side, the river from northwest to southeast in a circular shape never showed any variation in whole period while some area in between this has now changed. The fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables side divided into three parts and a barn squared area has now engaged in this farm but the earlier barn area changed into holiday cottages.

Overall, the Beech wood farm has now developed by numerous facilities added into this zone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying key changes such as the conversion of the sheep area and the addition of holiday cottages. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are mentioned, the comparison between 1950 and the present is occasionally confusing, particularly regarding the specific locations of the fruit trees and the barn. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview clearly synthesises the most significant trends—such as the transition from agricultural use to a multi-purpose leisure facility—rather than just listing changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'to till now' or 'has now providing converted'. The transition between the North and South sections is clear, but the internal flow within paragraphs is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression could be improved by using more sophisticated linking words to connect the changes in land use to the overall development of the farm.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for the description of the map features. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'myriad' and 'transformations', but these are sometimes used incorrectly or with awkward collocations, such as 'has now engaged in this farm'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'road side' instead of 'road' or 'track path'. To improve, focus on using precise terminology for map descriptions, such as 'situated', 'replaced by', or 'remained unchanged'.

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, such as 'has now providing converted' and 'the river... never showed any variation in whole period'. Subject-verb agreement and tense 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 consistent tense usage (e.g., using the present perfect for changes that have occurred) would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.

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

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