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 two map below illustrate how the layout of farm site was in 1950, compared to the current site.

Overall, the farm has undergone considerable redevelopment. Animal shelter have been reduced, while more space has been allocated to vacation and solar panels. The running area has been converted into way of transport.

In 1950, most of the farm area was devoted for animal storage. The main track was connected with the highway which is built above the river. Fruit trees are located to the right of the entry side, followed by soft fruits and vegetables area, opposite side of these field across the track, huge land was devoted to sheep. In the bottom corner above the river, chicken sheds were built, above that, farmhouse and barn were located.

Since then, the facility has witnessed extensive renovation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad change from a farm to a more developed site, and mention the river, fields, farmhouse and barn. However, the report is incomplete: the overview’s claim that animal facilities were reduced and space allocated to holidays and solar panels is only partly supported, and the present-day features are not described in detail. Important changes such as the farm shop, camping field, two parking areas and holiday cottages are omitted. Some locations are also unclear or inaccurate: the sheep area was north of the track, not “opposite side” across it, and the chickens were south of the farmhouse, rather than simply in a bottom corner. The response is also 14 words below the required minimum. Add a fuller comparison of the two plans and accurately locate the main new facilities.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about 1950 and a final sentence signalling later changes. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, the progression is incomplete because the final paragraph says only that the site underwent renovation, without explaining what changed. Within the 1950 description, several locations are packed into long sentences, and references such as “the entry side” and “these field” are not immediately clear. The linking phrase “Since then” is useful, but it introduces no supporting details. To improve, group the description by areas or by old and new features, and use clear location references to guide the reader through each plan.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing maps, including “layout,” “redevelopment,” “allocated,” “connected” and “converted.” These choices show an attempt to use more than basic labels. However, several word combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “animal storage,” “running area” and “way of transport”; the map shows sheep and chickens, tracks and roads, rather than storage or a running area. “Vacation” is also less suitable here than “holiday,” and “entry side” is vague. These choices sometimes make the intended features harder to identify. Use precise map vocabulary and collocations, for example “land used for sheep,” “track converted into roads,” and “space for holiday accommodation.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of sentence forms, including a comparison in the opening and a complex sentence beginning “while” in the overview. Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction remain noticeable. For example, “The two map” should be “The two maps,” and “Animal shelter have” needs a plural subject and matching verb, such as “Animal facilities have.” The phrase “how the layout of farm site was” is also awkwardly formed; “how the farm site was laid out” is clearer. In “Fruit trees are located … followed by soft fruits,” the tense shifts from past description to present. Keep past tense for 1950 and present tense for today, and check articles and plural forms.

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.