Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-07

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 plans show the transformation of beechwood farm, between 1950 and present.

Overall, the river flow on the southern side and black highway road on ther north-west corner passing through the river. we can see that the farm have specifice area for growing different items and have one local road that passing in front of all shops.

Firstly, in 1980, we can see that a large area for sheep on the north-east corner. In the middle of farm, we can see that, three rectangle area specific for growing such as fruit, soft fruits and vegetables. In the south-east corner, more three specific area for chickens, farmhouse and barns. The track in the front of all specific areasa and back side of area river flow.

Secondly, today farm looks like, sheep area are replace withe solar panels that are in north-east corner. also parking and camping field.There are two parking avaliable one neat the highway and second near the solar panels. Moreover, a farm shop open near the fruit trees and track are convert into road. Barn area are replace with holiday cottages and barn is shift in the corner of road.

Lastly, as we compare the farm from past, we can see alot of changes are made. One major change in sheep area, which are converted into different items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad change from a working farm to a site with visitor facilities, and you mention several relevant features, including the river, crop plots, parking, camping, the farm shop and holiday cottages. However, the overview is unclear and does not accurately summarise the main pattern: the crop-growing areas and the farmhouse and chicken enclosure remain, while new facilities are added and the track becomes a road. Some details are misread or imprecise: the plans compare 1950 with today, not 1980, and the barn is not replaced by cottages; it remains, although its position is described differently. The final point about the sheep area becoming “different items” is too vague. Select the key changes and describe their locations accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview and paragraphs introduced by “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Lastly.” This gives the reader some signposting, and the description generally moves from the earlier plan to the present one. However, the progression is weakened by repetition: the final paragraph repeats the idea of changes without adding a clear comparison. Some links are mechanical, and several sentences contain unclear references, such as “The track in the front of all specific areas,” which makes the spatial relationship difficult to follow. Group information by location or by what stayed and what changed, and use linking phrases to make those comparisons explicit rather than relying mainly on sequence markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “river,” “fruit trees,” “parking,” “camping field,” and “holiday cottages,” so the reader can identify many of the features being described. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning unclear. For example, “specific area for growing different items” is vague, “black highway road” is not a natural description of the main road, and “barn area are replace” appears to confuse the barn with the cottages. Spelling errors such as “avaliable,” “withe,” and “alot” also reduce precision. Use map vocabulary such as “plot,” “field,” “facility,” “located,” and “converted,” and check spelling and natural word combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can understand the general topic. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently in sentence construction, verb forms, agreement, articles and punctuation. For example, “the farm have” should be “the farm has,” while “sheep area are replace” needs a passive form such as “the sheep area has been replaced.” The opening overview also becomes a sentence fragment after “Overall,” with inconsistent sentence boundaries and capitalisation. Some longer constructions, such as “One major change in sheep area, which are converted…,” are incomplete and unclear. Practise accurate present and past forms, especially when comparing the two plans, and build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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