Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given map depicts information about the public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.
It is clear that the highest value in the picture is for Stage for the musicians which is at the left corner of the map, which remains in the left corner altered as Amphitheatre for concerts.
There is a gradual change in the fountain from the old map which got moved to the right bottom corner and altered as water feature.
On the other hand the Rose garden from the old map was at three corners got remains only in Top left corner of the new map.
Over all there are significant changes made between the old GRANGE Park (1920) and as of today.
In contrast the right upper corner Rose Garden has been converted to a Cafe. Additionally the Pond for water plants has been converted to Children's play area.
Similarly the fountain from the old map has moved and replaced with Rose Garden which is the centre point of the map.
Meantime both the entrance remains the same.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the park's transformation, such as the conversion of the rose gardens and the addition of the cafe and children's play area. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear overview of the most significant trends. The phrase 'highest value in the picture' is inappropriate for a map description, as it suggests statistical data rather than spatial features. While the main changes are identified, the reporting of these features is occasionally confusing, such as the contradictory statements regarding the fountain's location and the rose garden's layout. A more structured approach, grouping changes by area or type, would improve the clarity of the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into short, somewhat choppy paragraphs that hinder the flow of information. While there is an attempt to use cohesive devices like 'On the other hand', 'Additionally', and 'In contrast', these are sometimes used inaccurately or do not logically connect the ideas. The progression of information is not always clear, particularly when jumping between different corners of the park. The referencing is occasionally ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes described. Improved paragraphing and more precise linking words would help create a more coherent response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'highest value' and 'got remains', which are not suitable for describing a map. The term 'altered as' is used repeatedly, which makes the writing feel repetitive. While the student successfully identifies features like 'Amphitheatre', 'water feature', and 'children's play area', the overall range is limited. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied verbs for change, such as 'transformed', 'replaced', or 'redeveloped', and ensure collocations are natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the Rose garden from the old map was at three corners got remains only in Top left corner' and 'the right upper corner Rose Garden has been converted'. There are issues with article usage, subject-verb agreement, and awkward phrasing. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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