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 given maps show the structure of Beechwood Farm looked during the year 1950 and how many things have been changed until today.

Overall, the major part of the farm which was used earlier for the Sheep, now , it is replaced by a Camping field. While Shops remained unchanged and The barn house become a small and taken to the different place. Moreover, things like a solar panels and parking made a space around right corner.

In 1950, The Farm looked simpler with only essential things. There are two fruit shops and one vegetables shops were there. Whereas most of land was occupied for Sheep and the muddy track which leads to a big barn house, Farmhouse and the tiny fence house for hens.

Today, the Sheep's land replaced with the Camping field and a parking on the corner. While all three shops remain unchanged with an addition of new Farm shop. The road becomes very flat and perfect for the drive. Furthermore, few changes happened over the period. Firstly, the Barn house became smaller and changed to new location. Secondly, The solar panels and a parking took almost 30% of land at the right corner. The Holiday cottages have been added for the tourist near the same sized Farmhouse and chickens room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main transformation from sheep pasture to a camping field and note several additions, including the farm shop, solar panels, parking and holiday cottages. This gives the response a relevant overview and covers both dates. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: there were fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables, not “two fruit shops” and a “vegetables shop”; the shops did not remain unchanged, as the farm shop is new; and the barn’s relocation is not clearly described. The claim that parking and solar panels occupy “almost 30%” is unsupported, while the road is not described as “very flat.” To strengthen the account, compare the locations and functions of the main areas more precisely and avoid unsupported estimates. The overview is present, but some features need fuller, more accurate development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for 1950 and today. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison, and sequencing phrases such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” signal changes. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. The overview’s “While Shops remained unchanged” conflicts with the later statement that a new farm shop was added, and “Moreover” introduces details without a clear relationship to the preceding point. Repeated openings with “While” also create fragments rather than smooth links. Grouping changes by location or by what was retained versus added would create clearer progression. Use referencing carefully so that phrases such as “the same sized Farmhouse” have an unmistakable comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “replaced,” “occupied,” “addition,” and “Holiday cottages,” and the reader can generally identify the features being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the map details difficult to interpret. “Fruit shops” and “vegetables shops” misname fields or plots, “barn house” is not an appropriate label, and “the road becomes very flat and perfect for the drive” is an imprecise description of the change. “Took almost 30% of land” is also an unsupported and awkward phrase. Use the map’s labels directly and choose precise verbs such as “was converted into,” “was added,” or “was relocated.” This would improve clarity and control without requiring unnecessarily elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “While” and sequencing with “Firstly” and “Secondly.” However, errors in sentence formation, tense, agreement, articles and punctuation are frequent enough to affect clarity. For example, “The given maps show the structure … looked” lacks a grammatical link, and “now, it is replaced” uses an incorrect tense and awkward clause structure. “There are two fruit shops and one vegetables shops were there” combines incompatible sentence patterns and has agreement problems. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, as in “The Farm” and “The barn house.” Practise forming complete comparison sentences with consistent past and present tenses, for example, “In 1950, the area was used for sheep, but it is now a camping field.” More accurate sentence patterns would make your comparisons easier to follow.

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

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