Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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)

A plan of barn has been illustrated in two images that have gone through significant change since 1950.

Overall structure of barn is quite similar with some addition recreational activities like camping. The farm is now more managed as compared to the mid 20th century's version.

The sheep area has completely revamped and is replace by solar panels for renewable energy generation, camping fields for leisure, and two empty slots for parking. The track has been replaced by proper pavement. Other than that, now fruit trees include a small farm shop. The barn is a lot smaller now and is located near vegetables section. The previous barn has been repurposed with three combined sections of holiday cottages.

Despite some visible changes, some places are still similar. Soft fuits and vegatbles are in same location and are in similar size. Furthermore, the Farmehouse and Chickens areas have not gone through any change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the site changes, such as the addition of solar panels, holiday cottages, and the farm shop. You also made relevant comparisons between the 1950 layout and the current one. However, the response is quite brief, and some descriptions lack precision. For instance, stating the barn is 'a lot smaller' is vague; describing the reduction in size or the change in function would be more analytical. Additionally, ensure you clearly distinguish between the 'farmhouse' and the 'barn' as they are distinct structures. To reach a higher band, focus on providing a more detailed overview and ensuring all key changes are described with greater clarity and specific detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is generally coherent, with a logical progression from an overview to specific changes. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'Despite some visible changes' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is somewhat weak; the introduction and overview are merged, and the body paragraphs could be better structured to group related changes (e.g., land use vs. building repurposing). The referencing is occasionally slightly unclear, such as in the sentence 'The previous barn has been repurposed with three combined sections of holiday cottages.' Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider range of cohesive devices would enhance the overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'repurposed', 'revamped', and 'renewable energy generation'. However, there are several spelling errors ('fuits', 'vegatbles', 'Farmehouse') and some awkward phrasing, such as 'addition recreational activities' instead of 'additional'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on accurate spelling and using more precise collocations when describing spatial changes or functional shifts in the site layout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'A plan of barn has been illustrated' (missing article), 'is replace by' (incorrect verb form), and 'are in same location' (missing article). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and consistent verb tense usage when describing past and present states.

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

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