Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30
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 chart illustrates how Beechwood Farm changed over the years.
The farm was made near a river and the main road. A track interconnected different parts of the farm. Today the farm has developed with the track converted to a road. And multiple new additions have been made.
In 1950 the farm had a barn and farmhouse with chickens close to the river. A track connected all parts of the farm.The sheep were on the right side of the track. Going further down the track fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables fields could be seen.
Today the farm looks completely different as the track is converted to a road. The sheep area is now made a camping field. Beside it a parking area can be seen with solar panels on top. On the other side holiday cottages, farmhouse and a barn with chicken near it. The fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables field are still at the same place. But, a new farm shop is made near fruit trees. And also a new parking space which connects to the main road.
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 successfully covers all major features of the maps, comparing Beechwood Farm in 1950 with its layout today. The student identifies the conversion of the track into a road, the replacement of the sheep area with a camping field and parking, and the addition of holiday cottages, a farm shop, and solar panels. However, the overview in the introduction is rather simplistic ("how Beechwood Farm changed over the years"), and some descriptions lack detailed spatial relationships (for instance, noting precisely where solar panels are located). Nonetheless, the main trends and changes are adequately reported, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text is structured into four paragraphs, providing an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for the past and present layouts. Paragraphing is used logically and appropriately. However, cohesion at the sentence level is occasionally faulty or disjointed. For example, starting sentences with conjunctions like "And multiple new additions have been made" or "And also a new parking space" creates a somewhat fragmented style. Reference pronouns and cohesive devices are generally clear overall, but the mechanical transitions prevent the response from achieving a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully identifying agricultural and developmental features such as "barn", "farmhouse", "fruit trees", "camping field", and "solar panels". The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to map transformations ("converted", "additions"), but word choices and collocations are occasionally awkward or imprecise, such as writing "The farm was made near a river" instead of "built" or "situated", or "The sheep area is now made a camping field". Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, placing the lexical range firmly at a Band 6.0 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as "The map chart illustrates how Beechwood Farm changed over the years" and "Today the farm looks completely different as the track is converted to a road." There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout, including missing commas, fragment sentences starting with conjunctions ("And multiple new additions have been made"), and awkward passive voice constructions ("a new farm shop is made"). Despite these recurring grammatical slips, meaning is rarely impeded, supporting a solid Band 6.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.