Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07
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 illustrates the changes made to farm site build in 1950, from past to present. Overall, the farm has undergone many changes, with several original facilities being removed or relocated. The most noteabe changes are the introduction of solar panels, holiday cottages and camping field. While different sections on river side for fruits, and vegetables remained same just with little additionol barn on road side. 76 years ago, the farm contained areas for sheep on top right corner, farm house and chicken side at thye botton right corner. While areas for fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables were located alongside the river on side and road from other side. Today, area designated for sheep is replaced by camping field with the addition of two parking sites one constructed on left side just beside the road and second on the right side just below the solar pannels those are planted on top right corner of the farm . Shops for farm is added to the area of fruit trees. Barn area is relocated to corner of two joined roads sides, and holiday cottages are constructed on the place of barn.
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 covers the main features of the maps, including the key changes such as the introduction of solar panels, holiday cottages, and the camping field. You successfully identified the shift from agricultural use to a more diversified site. However, the overview is slightly cluttered, and some details are under-developed or imprecise, such as the description of the fruit and vegetable areas. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the transition from a purely working farm to a mixed-use site) rather than listing individual changes. The comparison between 1950 and the present is generally clear, though more precise spatial language would enhance the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction and overview to specific details. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between the 1950 description and the present-day description could be smoother. There are also issues with paragraphing and spacing, as the text contains large, unnecessary gaps that disrupt the flow. Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to show contrast and sequence more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'relocated', 'designated', and 'constructed'. However, there are several spelling errors ('noteabe', 'additionol', 'pannels', 'thye') and minor word-choice inaccuracies, such as 'farm site build' instead of 'farm site layout'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they do limit the score. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of key terms related to map descriptions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The diagrams illustrates') and missing articles ('on side and road from other side'). Some sentences are slightly awkward in their construction, which occasionally forces the reader to re-read to grasp the intended meaning. While you attempt to use complex structures, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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