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 plans illustrates the change of Beechwood Farm between 1950 to present day.
Overall, the farm has developled and use for tourism and recreational purposes. The fruit trees, soft fruits and vagrtables areas are same as in 1950 where in present day parking, camping field, holiday cottages and many other has been added in present day. Also, the track and road system has been modified.
In 1950, the fruit trees is in the northern side of the farm while soft fruits and vegetables are in the southern side of the farm. The track is connected through the main road and there is barn on the east side with farmhouse and small area of chickens. A river is surrounded by the western side to western side.
But today, there has been lot of changes. There is a farm shop in the area of fruit trees where other two farm is in exact location as before. The track which was connected to main road is converted to road. The parking is added closed to main road and camping field is in middle of the northern side. The farmhouse and chickens are in same palce as in 1950. Solar panels has been installed in northeast side. Barn is moved to south side connected to road and in place of barn holiday cottages is opened. At last, the river is surrounding the farm as it is before.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the transition from agricultural use to tourism. However, the overview is slightly weak, and some details are inaccurate or confusingly described. For example, the claim that the farm shop is in the area of fruit trees is imprecise, and the description of the river's location is repetitive. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the two time periods could be more analytical. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the most significant trends, such as the shift from farming to commercial/recreational use, rather than just listing changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the use of 'But today' to start a paragraph or 'At last' to conclude. Referencing is generally clear, but some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between the description of the 1950 layout and the present-day layout would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the features of the farm. However, there are several spelling errors ('developled', 'vagrtables', 'palce') and some awkward word choices, such as 'many other has been added'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'situated in the north-east corner', 'replaced by', or 'undergone significant transformation', and ensure greater accuracy in spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The plans illustrates', 'fruit trees is', 'Solar panels has been installed') and incorrect preposition usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent tense usage when describing past and present states, and proofreading for basic grammatical slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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