Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-06
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 first map illustrates the layout of a beechwood farm in 1950. The second map shows how this area has developed today.
Overall, this area has undergone noticable changes with the addition of farm shop, camping field, parking, holiday cottages and technoligcal developments. The major transformation has been seen in the north-eastern side of the sight.
In the first map, the sight of the beechwood farm was relatively small with several key features. The farm was located in the middle of the map, with road and river surrounding it. The river was at the southwest side, along with that fruit trees on the west side, and side by side soft fruits and vegetables. The southeast included the farmhouse, barn and there was some area for chickens. The only major part was for the sheep at the north side of the farm.
By time, the area has changed dramatically with popular key features, such as, camping field at the north side which there was a sheep space allocated. Along with that the sight installed some advanced technology like solar panels. Fruit trees have addition of a farm shop at the corner. One of the most notable change is track is replaced by a road at the north side of the map.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the maps and provides a clear overview of the changes. You successfully identified the key developments, such as the addition of the farm shop, camping field, and solar panels. However, the description of the 1950 layout is slightly confusing due to imprecise spatial references (e.g., 'side by side soft fruits and vegetables'). While you mention the major transformation in the north-east, more precise comparisons between the two time periods would strengthen the response. Ensure that all features mentioned are clearly linked to their specific locations on the map to improve clarity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall' and 'In the first map', to guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Along with that the sight installed' and 'By time'. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, which affects the flow. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that progresses the narrative of the site's development.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transformation', 'allocated', and 'developed'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'noticable' (noticeable), 'technoligcal' (technological), and the repeated misuse of 'sight' instead of 'site'. These errors are noticeable but do not fully impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for common spelling mistakes and expanding your range of descriptive vocabulary to avoid repetitive phrasing like 'key features' and 'side'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles (e.g., 'addition of a farm shop', 'at the north side') and prepositions. Some sentences are structurally awkward, such as 'camping field at the north side which there was a sheep space allocated'. Improving your control over sentence construction and article usage will help you achieve a higher score. Focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct word order in complex clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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