Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22

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 plans illustrate the changes in the layout that have taken place in Beachwood Farm between 1950 and the present day.

Overall, the farm has been considerably modernised, with several facilities added for the workers, while some original features such as the track, barn, and sheep have been replaced or changed. The area has become more focused on comfort and leisure.

In 1950, the north-east corner was renovated for sheep, while a track was developed in the center of the farm. Next to the track, on the south-east corner, a barn is located along with the farmhouse next to it, and chickens are positioned further south to it with the boundary of the river. Moreover, the fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetables are situated in a column-like manner, between the river and the track.

Today, the farm has undergone many significant developments. The sheep area has been removed entirely and replaced by solar panels and a parking area in the north-east corner; to the west of these changes, a camping field has been introduced and a parking area further to the west. The track has been replaced by the road, and a barn is positioned at the junction of the road. Another major change is that holiday cottages have been constructed between the road and the farmhouse in the south-east corner, while a farm shop has been developed next to the fruit trees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully summarises the main changes between 1950 and the present day, providing a clear overview that notes the farm's modernisation and shift towards leisure facilities. Key features are reported, such as the replacement of sheep with solar panels and a camping field, the construction of holiday cottages, and the addition of a farm shop. Comparisons and spatial references are generally accurate, mentioning locations such as the north-east corner and the south-east area. However, there are minor inaccuracies in reporting past features, such as stating that the north-east corner was 'renovated for sheep' in 1950 when the map simply shows sheep grazing there, and mixing up tense usage when describing the 1950 layout (e.g., 'a barn is located'). Nonetheless, the task is well addressed overall.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, a body paragraph describing the past layout, and a final body paragraph detailing current changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different temporal periods and themes. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well to guide the reader through the comparisons, using phrases such as 'In 1950,' 'Today,' and 'Moreover.' However, some transitions and referencing feel slightly mechanical, and the logical progression within the first body paragraph is occasionally cluttered by cramped spatial descriptions (e.g., 'further south to it with the boundary of the river'). Despite these minor flaws, the overall arrangement is coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for describing maps and spatial changes, incorporating terms such as 'modernised,' 'facilities,' 'boundaries,' and 'junction.' There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'considerably modernised' and 'significant developments.' However, some word choices and collocations are slightly unnatural or inaccurate, such as 'renovated for sheep' instead of used for sheep grazing, or 'positioned in a column-like manner' to describe parallel plots. Spelling is accurate throughout, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the band 6 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and prepositional phrases (e.g., 'The plans illustrate the changes in the layout that have taken place...'). Grammatical control is generally decent, but there are noticeable errors in tense consistency and prepositions, particularly when describing the historical map using present tense verbs ('a barn is located', 'chickens are positioned') and awkward prepositional phrasing ('further south to it'). Punctuation is mostly correct, and complex structures are attempted without severely impairing overall readability.

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