Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-17
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 two diagrams demonstrate the park for local public when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.
Overall, there are huge changes in park in compared to 1920. In the centre of the park there was a fountain but now there is a rose garden and some seats for individuals along with rose garden. Besides the fountain there was a stage for musicians in 1920 but now there is an amphitheatre for concerts.
In the 1920, there was two entrance which is same in today. In 1920 there was three rose garden in front and back side of the stage for musicians and another rose garden was beside the entrance . Close to rose garden there was a pond for water plants and some seats near it. In the centre there was a fountain in front of entrance. There were four places available for sitting.
However, today there is rose garden and four sitting bench available along with this. There is a children's play area replaced by ponds for water. the stage for musicians is replaced by amphitheatre for concerts. The one rose garden is at a same place. There is a cafe replaced by rose garden.
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 in 1920 and today, identifying key changes such as the replacement of the fountain and the addition of the amphitheatre. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are mentioned, the spatial relationships are sometimes confusing (e.g., 'three rose garden in front and back side of the stage'). To reach a higher band, the response should group information more logically—perhaps by comparing the north and south sides of the park—rather than listing features in a way that feels disjointed. The summary of changes is present but could be more effectively synthesised.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'In 1920 there was...'). Referencing is also inconsistent; for example, the phrase 'which is same in today' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. The transition between the description of the 1920 layout and the current layout could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the features of the park. However, there is a lack of precision and some repetitive word choices, such as the frequent use of 'rose garden' and 'replaced by'. There are also minor errors in word form and collocation, such as 'in compared to' instead of 'compared to' and 'four sitting bench' instead of 'four benches' or 'seating areas'. To improve, the student should aim to use a wider range of synonyms and more precise descriptive language to convey the changes more effectively.
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 subject-verb agreement issues ('there was two entrance', 'there was three rose garden') and incorrect article usage ('the one rose garden'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure often feels simplistic. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on pluralisation rules and consistent verb tense usage would be highly beneficial for future writing tasks.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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