Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12

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 figure illustrates the important features that were introduced at this time from when it was first opened in 1920.

There are a total of 5 main differences that can be seen in the Grange park at the present time, cafe, rose garden, amphitheatre, children's play area and a water feature.

Moreover, we can see clearly that the main difference is the rose garden that has been replaced by the fountain in the center of the park and the seating area has been shifted around the garden rather than on the sides of the park.

If we look into the details properly, the rose gardens were on the sides of the park before but now it has been made in the center of the park with a seating area all around it. Next, the stage area for people who love music or were musicians has been upgraded to an amphitheatre for concerts and is in a bit larger size than before. Furthermore, there was a glasshouse which was later substituted by a water feature, like a small pond fountain. The most interesting things introduced are the cafe for people to enjoy delicious food and snacks while they spend their time in admiring other things in the park, the other is the children's play area, where they can have fun with alot of things according to their age.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the park's transformation, identifying the key additions like the cafe and play area. However, the report contains factual inaccuracies regarding the map data. For instance, you state the rose garden was replaced by a fountain, whereas the map shows the rose garden remains but is now surrounded by seating, and the fountain is a new addition. Furthermore, the description of the glasshouse being substituted by a water feature is imprecise. To achieve a higher band, ensure your summary is strictly based on the visual evidence provided. The overview is somewhat weak, as it lists features rather than synthesising the major trends of development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and somewhat disjointed transitions. While you use cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'Next', and 'Furthermore', they feel mechanical and do not always connect ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is insufficient; the response would benefit from a clearer separation between the introduction/overview and the detailed body paragraphs. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when you refer to 'the other' without a clear antecedent. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a distinct focus would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes, such as 'upgraded', 'substituted', and 'amphitheatre'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and informal phrasing, such as 'look into the details properly' and 'a bit larger size'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to urban planning or spatial changes, and avoid conversational fillers. Spelling is generally accurate, but the range of vocabulary lacks the sophistication required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally affect clarity. For example, 'the rose gardens were on the sides of the park before but now it has been made in the center' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('it' referring to plural 'gardens'). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent subject-verb agreement and refining complex sentence construction will help improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.