Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-28
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 given plans illustrate the difference in the site of a Beechwood Farm in 1950 and the present. One of the major changes, changes can be seen in the area where sheep resided.
To begin with, a farm shop was built near the premises where the fruit trees grow. In both the plans, the region where soft fruits and vegetables are grown remained unchanged throughout the years. Furthermore, the position of the barn at the upper-right corner is now located to the triangular section of the track, replacing the previous position of the barn with a range of holiday cottages.
Along with that, the major changes are made in the location where sheep inhabited. They are substituted with an extensive camping area. A parking lot is constructed in the western corner of the camping field and also near the end of the road. The additonal space has been used to install solar panels.
To conclude, there are significant modifications made in the layout of the site in the 1950 and today. A huge range of facilties are added to the farm that previously had fewer facilties than it has now.
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 candidate attempts to cover the main changes between the 1950 map and the current plan of Beechwood Farm, successfully highlighting the addition of the camping field, farm shop, holiday cottages, and solar panels. However, there are some inaccuracies and omissions in reporting the spatial relationships and features. For instance, the barn is not relocated to the 'triangular section of the track' as claimed; rather, the original barn remains in the south, while holiday cottages are built north of the farmhouse. Furthermore, the claim that the area for soft fruits and vegetables 'remained unchanged' overlooks the addition of the farm shop nearby and the reorganization of surrounding paths. While an overview is attempted in the conclusion, the body paragraphs lack a cohesive structural progression to effectively contrast the overall layout transformation, leading to a Band 6 rating.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organized into four paragraphs, including a brief introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Along with that' are used to connect ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. Paragraphing is generally logical, separating the introduction, major structural changes, and the additions in the northern area. However, referencing and progression are sometimes faulty, such as in the sentence 'the position of the barn at the upper-right corner is now located to the triangular section of the track', which creates confusion regarding spatial placement. Overall, the essay maintains a coherent arrangement, but the logical flow between sentences occasionally falters due to vague referencing.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with attempts at less common lexical items such as 'substituted', 'extensive', 'modifications', and 'facilties' (misspelled as facilties). There are noticeable spelling errors ('additonal', 'facilties') and some awkward collocations or lexical choices, such as 'where sheep resided' instead of 'where sheep grazed' or 'pasture land'. While the writer manages to describe the physical elements using appropriate geographical and architectural terms like 'camping area', 'parking lot', and 'solar panels', the range is somewhat limited, and inaccuracies prevent access to higher bands. Lexical control is sufficient to convey the general meaning without impeding communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'To begin with, a farm shop was built near the premises where the fruit trees grow' and 'They are substituted with an extensive camping area.' There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, including 'the difference in the site of a Beechwood Farm' (article misuse), 'changes can be seen in the area where sheep resided' (awkward comma usage and phrasing), and repeated spelling mistakes in words like 'facilties'. Control over complex structures is variable, and prepositional usage is occasionally flawed ('located to the triangular section'). Nevertheless, the errors rarely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 6 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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