Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The plans illustrate the area of a farm in 1950 and the identical structure today.

Overall, it is immediately apparent that there are several different changes occurred in modern time, for instance, the place of sheep has been changed completely to two distinct places which are camping field and placing solar panels. Furthermore, track roads ways by roads.

In 1950, there was only fruit trees in the first field. In contrast, a farm shop is added to nowadays. The same with sheep field, the whole area was for sheep in 1950, whilst now, it has divided to two different parts, one for placing solar panels and parking in the bottom of the area and the other one for camping purposes, there are nature in it as well.

A barn has built up in the basement of two roads and

The previous barn destroyed and replaced by holiday cottages. Finally, all tracks are converted into roads

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main changes, such as the conversion of the sheep area and the addition of new facilities. However, the report lacks precision in describing the spatial layout. For example, the phrase 'in the basement of two roads' is unclear and does not accurately reflect the map's geography. Furthermore, the description of the 'nature' in the camping area is vague. While the main features are mentioned, the lack of clear, comparative language and the imprecise reporting of locations mean the response only partially covers the requirements. To improve, ensure you use clear directional language (e.g., 'in the north-west corner') and provide a more structured overview of the transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the general progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'The same with sheep field' are grammatically awkward and do not effectively link ideas. Additionally, the transition between the description of the barn and the roads is abrupt, and the lack of clear referencing makes it difficult to track the changes over time. The overall flow is hindered by these structural weaknesses, which occasionally make the information difficult to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise. There is a reliance on basic verbs such as 'changed', 'added', and 'built', which do not convey the specific nature of the developments shown in the plans. Some word choices are incorrect, such as 'track roads ways by roads' and 'the basement of two roads', which impede clarity. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations related to map description. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more descriptive vocabulary, such as 'converted', 'demolished', 'extended', or 'replaced'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally cause confusion. Examples include 'there are several different changes occurred', 'it has divided to two different parts', and 'A barn has built up'. These errors involve tense usage, passive voice construction, and prepositional errors. While the meaning is generally discernible, the lack of control over complex sentence structures and the high frequency of basic errors limit the score. You should focus on mastering the passive voice for describing changes (e.g., 'the barn was demolished') and ensuring subject-verb agreement.

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

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