Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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 plans illustrate the development of a Beechwood farm in 1950 and in recent times.

Overall, the farm underwent development during this period. Several new facilities were introduced. However, some features remained unchanged.

As clearly shown, in 1950, sheep has the largest area of the site. And in recent times, the major development has been made in the sheep area which is transformed into two areas known as camping field and solar panels along with their own parkings.

In the southern part of the farm, the tracks is now transformed into the road. The holiday cottages has been constructed along side with Farmhouse, chickens and the place of the barn has been shifted at the end of the road.

The rest of the area is still the same only a farm shop added into the fruit trees area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad change from a farm focused on sheep to one with visitor facilities, and you note that the farmhouse and chickens remain. However, the account is incomplete and some details are inaccurate: the sheep area becomes a camping field and solar panels, not “two areas” with parkings, and the farm shop is between the fruit trees and internal road rather than added within the fruit-tree area. The claim that the rest is unchanged overlooks the retained fruit, soft-fruit and vegetable plots and the conversion of tracks into roads. The barn’s relocation is also described imprecisely. The response is 138 words, below the required 150, which limits the detail and comparisons provided. Include a fuller overview and accurately describe the main changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the discussion moves from the sheep area to the southern tracks and then to “the rest” without systematically comparing the two plans. Some linking is mechanical, particularly “However” and “As clearly shown,” while “And in recent times” creates an awkward sentence connection. The final sentence also groups several unchanged features together without specifying them. Organise the body by location or by unchanged and changed features, and use clear references such as “the former sheep field” to make relationships easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “facilities,” “camping field,” “holiday cottages,” and “southern part,” so the reader can understand the general subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural. “Their own parkings” is not an appropriate way to describe the two parking areas, and “the place of the barn has been shifted” is an awkward expression. “The rest of the area is still the same” is also too broad to convey the specific land uses. Aim for precise terms such as “parking areas,” “relocated,” and “remained unchanged,” and name the plots that were retained. More varied language for location and change would make the description clearer and more accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple statements and more complex forms, including “which is transformed into…” and “along side with…,” but control is uneven. Subject–verb agreement errors occur in “sheep has” and “the tracks is,” while “the holiday cottages has been constructed” also has a plural subject with a singular verb. The passive construction “which is transformed” does not maintain the past-to-present time frame clearly; use “was converted” or “has been converted.” The fragment-like opening “And in recent times…” and the punctuation after “site” interrupt the flow. Practise accurate agreement and consistent tense, and connect related ideas in complete sentences. These corrections 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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