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 diagrams illustrate the site map of a beechwood farm in the year 1950 and at present time. In both the time period map location situated near to river.

Overall, fields of three basic need category (fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables) was located at the same place along with (farmhouse and chickens) in both the time period whereas, big change observed sheep area converted to some additional design over the period.

In 1950 track was followed to reach at different fields of farms which is changed to road in present time with the addition of barn near to connected road is another big change. Additionally, the sheep area was plain in the year 1950, which is converted to (parking, camping fields, solar panels) in recent time to make site more accessible with the facilities.

Today's, area of field is having farm shop near to road and a holiday cottage in between of farmhouse and road in today's time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response identifies the main features of the maps, such as the conversion of the sheep area and the addition of the road and farm shop. However, the description is somewhat fragmented and lacks a clear, professional overview. While the key changes are mentioned, the reporting is occasionally imprecise, such as the vague reference to 'some additional design'. To improve, ensure that all major changes are described with greater clarity and that the overview provides a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation of the site rather than just listing individual elements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or awkward, such as the repetitive use of 'in today's time' and 'in the year 1950'. The flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between the track/road and the sheep area feels abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') is used more effectively would enhance the logical progression of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'fields of three basic need category' and 'at present time'. The use of parentheses to list items is not appropriate for formal academic writing and should be replaced with descriptive prose. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed', 'redeveloped', or 'situated adjacent to'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'fields... was located'), missing articles (e.g., 'near to river'), and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'Today's, area of field is having...'). While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over basic sentence construction and punctuation limits the score. Focusing on consistent verb tense usage and correct article placement will significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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

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