Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-17
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 map charts illustrate the information regarding the area of a farm compared between 1950 and in the present time.
Overall, the area underwent considerable redevelopment, characterized primarily by the construction of many different types of landscape and the removal of sheep.
Describing the map, a new parking area, camping field and solar panels were added in the northern section, before removing the sheep. Tracks were replaced by roads and attached a barn in the southern side with a Y shape road. The area underwent a substantial transformation, with the barn being replaced by holiday cottages in the western section.
Turning to the river, soft fruits, vegetables and chickens remained was unchanged throughout the period. Moreover, below the solar panels a new parking area was introduced. The fruit trees remained unchanged, but a new farm shop was constructed. While the southern section underwent considerable development, the northern part remained largely unchanged with several facilities. In the present time, farm is more modern than in the past.
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 satisfactory overview of the main changes depicted in the two maps, noting key developments such as the addition of the camping field, parking areas, solar panels, holiday cottages, and the farm shop, alongside the removal of sheep. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting specific details; for instance, the student states that the barn was replaced by holiday cottages in the western section, whereas the plans show that a new barn was relocated near the southern road junction while holiday cottages were built further north. Additionally, some statements about what remained unchanged contain minor spatial confusions. Nevertheless, the main features and comparisons are successfully covered, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized with a clear overall progression, moving from an introductory statement to an overview, followed by body details and concluding remarks. Paragraphing is attempted, though the central body paragraphs could be better structured to group spatial features more logically. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Turning to the river', and 'Moreover' are used to connect ideas, though referencing is occasionally mechanical or unclear, as seen in the sentence 'Tracks were replaced by roads and attached a barn in the southern side'. Progression is generally clear throughout, placing this response firmly in the Band 6 range.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'redevelopment', 'characterized primarily by', and 'substantial transformation'. However, there are several lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'construction of many different types of landscape', 'attached a barn', and 'remained was unchanged'. Word choices are sometimes imprecise, yet meaning remains comprehensible throughout the response. Spelling is accurate, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main transformations on the farm, aligning with Band 6 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and introductory participial phrases ('Describing the map...'). However, there are notable grammatical errors and awkward structures, such as 'The map charts illustrate the information regarding the area of a farm compared between 1950 and in the present time' and 'remained was unchanged'. Passive voice usage is occasionally flawed ('before removing the sheep' creates ambiguity about who performed the action). Despite these errors, communication is rarely impeded, and the sentence structures demonstrate a reasonable attempt at complexity, placing the grammar at Band 6.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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