Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-21
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 maps illustrate the changes in Beechwood Farm between 1950 and the present year.
Overall, the area underwent significant changes over the period. Several new features were added in the current layout as compared to previous one. While some areas remained unchanged such as soft fruits and vegetables.
The sheep area which was displayed in old map is now transformed into multiple activites.
Parking space was constructed near the main road in the exisitng plan, with surrounding facilties such as Camping field with two tents. Opposite to this section, solar panels has been incorporated, including the parking space also. The farm shop has been added into new plan in the fruit trees section.The track has been replaced to road and the barn zone has been included.
The barn area is completely extended and converted into holiday cottages and the other places which stayed the same in both the layouts such as Soft fruits, Farm house and Chickens.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarise the main changes between the 1950 and current maps of Beechwood Farm, satisfying the minimum length requirement. An overview is present, stating that the area underwent significant changes. However, there are notable inaccuracies and omissions in reporting the visual data. For example, the student claims that 'soft fruits and vegetables' remained unchanged, whereas the maps show the vegetable plot has been reduced and shifted slightly in relation to other features, and the barn area was not completely converted into holiday cottages (the barn is still present in the southern portion, alongside newly added cottages). Furthermore, some descriptions are vague or slightly confused, such as stating that the track was replaced by 'road' and mentioning solar panels without fully integrating their specific placement. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, placing this aspect at a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into multiple paragraphs, including an introduction and an overall statement, which provides a basic structural framework. However, the logical progression is weak. The division of paragraphs feels disjointed, and sentences within the body paragraphs are abrupt. Cohesive devices are used minimally or mechanically, as seen in repetitive sentence structures and limited linking words ('While some areas remained unchanged...', 'The sheep area which was displayed in old map...'). Reference words are occasionally unclear, such as the ambiguous pronoun use and abrupt transitions between the description of the farm shop, parking, and solar panels. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal cohesion of the body paragraphs lacks smooth transitions, resulting in an overall score of 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, with several lexical errors and awkward word choices ('multiple activites', 'exisitng plan', 'old map', 'barn zone'). The student attempts some task-specific vocabulary related to maps and features (e.g., 'parking space', 'solar panels', 'holiday cottages', 'farm shop'), but control is limited. There are also spelling errors ('activites', 'exisitng', 'facilties'). While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey a basic understanding of the visual changes, the noticeable errors and restricted range of less common items restrict the score to a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures are frequently marred by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'The sheep area which was displayed in old map is now transformed into multiple activites.', 'Opposite to this section, solar panels has been incorporated, including the parking space also.'). Subject-verb agreement errors ('solar panels has') and missing articles ('in old map', 'into new plan') are present. Punctuation is generally basic, and while meaning can mostly be deciphered, the frequency of grammatical inaccuracies causes some difficulty for the reader. This performance aligns with the Band 5.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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