Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 both maps illustrate the overall changes occur in Beechwood Farm by showing the site of 1950 and the same site today.

Overall, the present site has covered the larger area of sheep with solar panels, camping field and parking whereas fruits trees, soft fruits and vegetables are still on their place while a farm shop has built within the area of fruit trees.

Compared to the site of 1950, today sheep region has been divided into two areas one with parking and camping field and other with solar panels and parking. In addition, Holiday cottages have taken place of barn while the barn is connected with the road today.

Additionally, a small farm shop has now established within the area of fruit trees however, fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables has been on the same area since 1950. Once which was a track now has been changed into road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast between the farm in 1950 and today, and correctly note that the fruit trees, soft-fruit and vegetable areas remain while new facilities have been added. The overview also recognises the introduction of solar panels, camping and parking. However, some important changes are unclear or inaccurately described: the sheep area is not simply divided into two areas, and the cottages replace the former barn’s location only broadly; the barn has moved to the south-west of the farmhouse. The statement that the barn is “connected with the road” is vague. Develop the comparison by locating the new features more precisely and mentioning the farmhouse’s continued position and the road replacing the track.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing changes. This gives the reader a generally coherent account, and linking expressions such as “Compared to” and “In addition” help signal comparisons. However, the progression is weakened by repeated information: the persistence of the fruit and vegetable plots is stated in both the overview and the final paragraph. Some connections are also awkward, particularly “Additionally … however,” which joins contrasting ideas without a clear structure, and “Once which was a track” does not clearly refer back to the former track. Group the unchanged land uses together, then describe the new facilities and access changes, using clear references and less repetitive linking.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “solar panels,” “camping field,” “parking,” “Holiday cottages,” and “road,” so the main changes are usually understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “Compared to” and “taken place of.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “the overall changes occur” and “has covered the larger area of sheep” do not express the intended comparison clearly, while “has built within the area” is an awkward way to describe the shop’s location. “Fruits trees” is also an incorrect form. Aim for precise map language such as “replaced,” “was converted into,” and “is located within,” and check compound nouns and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a comparison beginning “Compared to the site of 1950” and a clause introduced by “while.” The overall meaning can generally be followed, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “The both maps illustrate the overall changes occur” needs a clearer clause structure, and “a farm shop has built” is missing the passive form “been.” In “fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables has been,” the plural subject requires a plural verb; the sentence also needs a more accurate tense for features that remain. The final sentence fragment, “Once which was a track,” should be recast as a complete clause. Practise accurate past-to-present comparisons and passive constructions.

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