Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 maps illustrate the site of a beachwood farm how it was in 1950 and how it is today.

Overall, farm has been significantly modrenized. Various new sections have been added. Solar panels and parking facilities have been provided, however some areas remained same as they were.

In 1950, a track was passing through the center of sheep area and river. Right top side of the farm a sheep area was located. In between track and river many small portions were present. Fruit tress were with the road which passed from the left top corner. Soft fruits and vegetables sections were adjecent to each other. On the right bottom corner beside river a chickens portion was located and upper side of it a farmhouse also was built. A barn was with the track.

Today, River is on the same position, although sheep is divided into parts, now there are two parkings, a camping field and solar panels area. A small farm shop is build in fruit trees portion. Soft fruits and vegetables sections are remained unchanged. Barn location is change now it is on the side of road triangle. Chickens and farmhouse both are at same position but holiday cottages are replace the barn.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main change from a working farm to a more developed site, and your overview mentions new facilities such as solar panels and parking. You also compare several features, including the river, farmhouse and chickens. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the sheep area is not divided into parts; it is replaced by a camping field and solar panels. The fruit trees remain, with the farm shop added nearby, rather than the shop being within the fruit-tree area. You also say the barn is replaced by holiday cottages, although the barn remains and the cottages are added south of the eastern road. To strengthen the response, describe the major changes more precisely and distinguish additions from relocations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a general overview, and separate descriptions of the two time periods. This makes the comparison reasonably easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In 1950,” and “Today” help signal the stages, while “although” introduces a contrast. However, some sentences combine several locations without a clear spatial sequence, and phrases such as “Right top side” and “upper side of it” make references less precise. The final paragraph also moves quickly between changes without grouping them by area. Organise details from west to east or by agricultural and residential features, and use clearer references such as “to the north of the farmhouse.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of map vocabulary, including “river,” “track,” “adjacent,” “parking facilities,” and “holiday cottages,” so the main features can generally be understood. There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “triangular” and “portions.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “chickens portion,” “sheep is divided into parts,” and “a small farm shop is build in fruit trees portion.” Spelling errors such as “modrenized,” “tress,” and “adjecent” also reduce accuracy. Aim for standard map collocations and precise labels, for example “chicken enclosure,” “the sheep field,” and “a shop was added beside the fruit trees.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple sentences and more complex forms, including “although” and “however,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Nevertheless, errors in tense, articles, agreement and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some descriptions awkward. For example, “farm has been significantly” needs an article, “a track was passing” is less suitable than a past simple description, and “Barn location is change” has an incorrect verb form. In “Soft fruits and vegetables sections are remained unchanged,” the passive construction is faulty. Practise consistent past and present forms for map comparisons, and check articles and subject–verb agreement when describing locations.

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

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