Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-08
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)
Two road maps of Beechwood Farm that illustrate the plans for the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today. There are numerous changes. Overall, in the past there was a street of fruit trees, soft fruits, vegetables, chickens, a farmhouse, and the barn between the track and a river, whereas that street now has a farm shop additionally, the barn is located before the chickens, farmhouse, and holiday cottages are also built there, between the river and the road. Moreover, parking areas, a camping field, and the solar panels are now included.
In 1950, there were simple tracks and the river. Between these fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetables were located. Later, they added chickens, a farmhouse, and then the barn.
In today's plan, they have developed and added a lot. There is a farm shop with fruit trees. Soft fruits and vegetables section. Then the barn was connected to the two roads. Afterward, the chicken area was built. A farmhouse with holiday cottages. On one side, there is a river, and on the other side, they built a camping field and parking area. The solar panels were installed with another parking area.
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 provides a general overview of the changes, but it lacks a clear, analytical focus on the main features. While you mention the addition of a farm shop, holiday cottages, and solar panels, the description of the spatial layout is confusing. For instance, stating the barn is 'before the chickens' is imprecise and does not clearly convey the spatial relationship between the 1950 and current layouts. To improve, you should group features logically (e.g., agricultural vs. commercial/tourist facilities) and ensure the comparison between the two time periods is more structured and accurate, rather than listing items in a disjointed manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas within them is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'then' and 'afterward'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes. For example, the transition between the 1950 description and the current layout lacks a smooth logical flow. Using a wider range of linking words and clearer signposting would help to guide the reader through the comparison more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'added', 'built', and 'included'. There is an attempt to use specific terms like 'solar panels' and 'holiday cottages', which is good, but the overall range is limited. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to maps and urban/rural development, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded'. Avoid repetitive phrasing to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with word order and preposition usage, such as 'the barn is located before the chickens' and 'there is a farm shop with fruit trees. Soft fruits and vegetables section.' The latter is a sentence fragment. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. To improve, focus on sentence construction and ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, while also varying your sentence length.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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