Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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 images illustrate the site of a farm in 1950 and today. The Beechwood farm which is located alongside the road and the river.

The farm consists of various sections with a path that connect with all of these sections. Significant changes have been noticed over the years such as the additions of solar panels and holiday cottages.

The Beachwood farm in the 1950 was a simple farm which consisted of a track and had sheep on the left side and other sections of fruits and vegetables on the right side. The farm has grown significantly adding several things like farm shop, parking, farmhouse and more other things that have been upgraded.

The sheep section of the farm has been eradicated from the site today, now a camping field, parking and solar panels are in the section where sheep used to be. There used to be a big barn in 1958 but now the barn size has been reduced significantly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two time periods and mention several genuine changes, including the farm shop, parking, solar panels, holiday cottages and the replacement of the sheep area with a camping field. However, the account only partly summarises the plans: it gives few clear comparisons of the site’s layout, and some details are inaccurate or unsupported. For example, the sheep were north of the track, not on the left, and the barn is not shown as having become smaller; its position changed. The farmhouse was already present in 1950, so saying it was added is misleading. The overview also needs to capture the main pattern of change while noting that some agricultural features remained. Develop the comparisons more precisely and avoid claims not supported by the plans.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and general statement to descriptions of the earlier and current site. This gives the reader some organisation, and the contrast between the former sheep area and its present uses is relevant. However, progression is limited: the second paragraph repeats the general idea of change, while the final paragraph introduces several details without a clear spatial or chronological sequence. Linking is also sparse, and references such as “these sections” and “the section where sheep used to be” are not always precise. Organise the body by comparing corresponding areas of the plans—for example, the northern area, central facilities and southern buildings—and use clear time markers to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a farm plan, including “solar panels,” “holiday cottages,” “camping field” and “eradicated.” This shows an adequate range for the task, but several choices are imprecise or repetitive. “Things” and “sections” are used broadly where specific terms such as facilities, fields or buildings would be clearer, and “grown significantly” does not accurately describe the range of changes. “Eradicated” is also too strong for a land-use change; “replaced” is more suitable. There are spelling inconsistencies in “Beachwood” and “Beechwood,” and “farmhouse” is sometimes treated as a new addition despite appearing in both plans. Aim for precise map vocabulary and consistent spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use mostly simple sentence forms, with some attempts to combine ideas, and the main message is generally understandable. However, grammatical control is uneven. The opening contains a fragment: “The Beechwood farm which is located alongside the road and the river.” The phrase “a path that connect” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “in the 1950” needs a plural decade form. Tense and sentence construction also need attention in “There used to be a big barn in 1958 but now the barn size has been reduced,” which does not clearly express the comparison. Practise complete sentences, accurate agreement and articles, and use past and present forms consistently when comparing the two plans.

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