Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-13

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 6.0)

The diagrams illustrate a farm site in 1950 and how it looks today.

Overall, the farm has underwent significant changes, with the addition of several features, such as a camping field, holiday cottages, solar panels, parking sites and a farm shop. However, the track has been replaced by a road.

In 1950, the farm was partly surrounded by a river, and the track connected the farm to the main road. The three separate portions of fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables were grown adjacent to the track and the river, whereas on the opposite side of the track, sheep section was constructed. The track was connected in the form of a triangle in the middle of the farm. On the right side of that triangular track, a barn and a farmhouse were situated, with chickens kept nearby.

Nowadays, the farm has changed considerably and become more developed. The track has been demolished and the road was built. The area featuring sheep is now facilitated with solar panels, two parking sites on the left and the right sides, and the camping field. While fruit trees, soft trees and vegetables featured in the same place, the barn is connected with the triangular part of the road. Finally, it has holiday cottages built in the place of the barn, but the farmhouse and chickens remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The candidate successfully provides an overview of the main features of the farm in 1950 and today, noting significant developments such as the holiday cottages, solar panels, and camping field. Key comparisons are made between the two time periods, highlighting how agricultural areas were replaced or supplemented by commercial and leisure facilities. However, there are some minor inaccuracies or confusing details in reporting specific locations, such as the statement that 'the barn is connected with the triangular part of the road' while also claiming 'holiday cottages built in the place of the barn,' which creates a slight contradiction. Despite this, all parts of the prompt are addressed with a clear overview, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.5 to Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into clear paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and an overall summary, followed by a body paragraph describing the past layout and a final paragraph detailing current changes. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'In 1950', 'Nowadays', and 'While', to guide the reader through the comparison. However, referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as using vague pronouns like 'it has holiday cottages built', which makes the sentence structure slightly clumsy. Paragraphing is logical, ensuring a coherent overall arrangement that allows the reader to follow the spatial and temporal evolution easily, corresponding to a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a map comparison task, employing terms like 'demolished', 'facilitated', 'surrounded', and 'significant changes'. However, there are a few lexical errors and awkward word choices, most notably the grammatical slip 'has underwent' instead of 'has undergone', and phrasing like 'sheep section was constructed' rather than 'an area designated for sheep'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, keeping the lexical score at a solid Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing passive voice ('was constructed', 'were grown', 'was built') and subordinating conjunctions ('whereas', 'while'). Control of grammar is generally decent, but there are several noticeable errors. Aside from the tense error 'has underwent', there are issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'on the right and the left sides' and 'soft trees' (likely a typo for soft fruits). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but structural inaccuracies in complex clauses keep the score at a Band 6.0.

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

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