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 transformation well, identifying key changes such as the introduction of solar panels and the relocation of the barn. However, the overview is slightly hindered by grammatical errors, and some descriptions of locations are imprecise (e.g., 'on side and road from other side'). While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two time periods could be more clearly structured to highlight the overall trend of commercialisation. The response addresses all parts of the task, but the lack of clarity in some spatial descriptions prevents it from reaching a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the changes. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. There are issues with referencing; for instance, the phrase 'on side and road from other side' is confusing and lacks clear logical flow. Paragraphing is present, but the transition between the description of the 1950s layout and the current layout could be smoother. The overall progression is clear, but the lack of sophisticated linking words limits the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'relocated', 'designated', and 'constructed' used appropriately. However, there are several spelling errors ('noteabe', 'additionol', 'pannels', 'thye') and some awkward phrasing, such as 'farm site build' and 'shops for farm'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but the errors in spelling and word choice are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader. To improve, the student should focus on more precise terminology for describing map changes and ensure careful proofreading of common words.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The diagrams illustrates'), missing articles ('on place of barn'), and awkward prepositional usage ('on top right corner'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. The student attempts complex sentences, but they are often marred by inaccuracies. More attention to basic grammar rules, particularly article usage and verb agreement, is required to achieve a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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