Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-15

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 visuals illustrate the architecture of a farm in 1950 and how it looks today.

Overall, the farm has significantly changed throughout the time period. It has been upgraded to attract tourists, by making several new modifications by utilising empty field and track.

Earlier, the farm had enormous field for sheeps which now contains solar panels, two parking slots and a camping field. Moreover, the track has been converted into a road, directly connecting to the barn.

Holiday cottages have been constructed on the previous location of the barn.

On the right side of the barn, farmhouse and chicken area remain the same. Opposite to the camping field, Vegetables and soft fruits portion remain unchanged. Whereas, fruit tree area includes a farm shop

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad change from a sheep field to visitor facilities and note that the farm has been adapted for tourism. You also mention the farm shop and the continued presence of some agricultural areas. However, the account is only partial and several comparisons are inaccurate: the barn was not replaced by holiday cottages; it remains, while the cottages are built south of the eastern road. The farmhouse and chicken enclosure remain in place, but the barn has shifted to the south-west of the farmhouse. The claim that vegetables and soft fruits are unchanged overlooks the new road layout and altered arrangement. The response is also 27 words below the required minimum, limiting the detail available. A fuller overview and accurate coverage of the main changes would strengthen it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to selected details, and linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Whereas” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the final paragraph moves between the barn, farmhouse, crops and farm shop without a clear spatial or chronological order. “On the right side of the barn” is also an unclear reference, particularly because the barn’s position changes. The final sentence beginning “Whereas” is not a complete sentence, which interrupts the flow. Organise the details into clear groups—for example, changes in the northern area and changes around the buildings—and use precise references to locations.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a site plan, including “converted into a road,” “constructed,” “parking slots” and “camping field.” These choices communicate the general idea, but the range is limited and some expressions are imprecise or unnatural. “Architecture of a farm” does not accurately describe changes to a site layout, while “utilising empty field and track” is vague and does not clearly identify the developments. “Enormous field for sheeps” is also an awkward description of the sheep area. Aim for precise map language such as “land use,” “area,” “located,” “replaced by” and “to the north-east of.” This would make comparisons clearer and reduce reliance on general wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including “Moreover, the track has been converted into a road” and a contrast introduced by “Whereas.” Meaning is generally understandable, but errors in sentence formation and grammatical control are noticeable. “Whereas, fruit tree area includes a farm shop” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence, and “by making several new modifications by utilising…” is an awkwardly constructed clause. There are also issues with articles and number, as in “an enormous field” and “two parking slots,” and the plural form in “sheeps” is incorrect. Practise writing complete comparison sentences and checking articles, singular/plural forms and clause structure.

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