Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-18
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 illustrates the difference between the public park known as grange park which was opened in 1920 and now. As we can spot lot of development in this year
Starting with the entrance , as we enter the park we can state a big fountain in middle of the park in 1920 whereas the fountain is replaced rose garden in recent times which is surrounded by seats . Later on the left side of the fountain there is a stage for musicians with a rose garden situated in front and back of the stage . Thereby in today's time the stage is replaced with amphitheatre for concerts with rose garden only on one side and no seats around.
On the other hand hand the right side of fountain contains one more rose garden with a small pond for water plants and a glasshouse with some more seats which is later replaced with a cafe and a play area for children . The glasshouse is converted to water feature that has an underground park
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 fountain, the stage, and the glasshouse. However, the description is somewhat inaccurate; for instance, the student mentions an 'underground park' which is not supported by the visual data, and the description of the rose gardens is confusing. While the main changes are identified, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from a more formal, botanical layout to a more recreational space. The information is presented, but the lack of precision in reporting the visual data limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'Later on' and 'Thereby'. The transition between the 1920 layout and the current layout is sometimes abrupt, making the progression of ideas feel disjointed. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the location of features (e.g., 'the right side of fountain contains one more rose garden'). Improved use of linking words and clearer spatial referencing would enhance the flow significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'we can state a big fountain' instead of 'there was a large fountain' and 'in today's time' instead of 'currently'. The student attempts to use specific terms like 'amphitheatre' and 'glasshouse', which is positive, but the overall range is limited. Some word choices are imprecise, which occasionally hinders the clarity of the description. Expanding the range of descriptive verbs and adjectives related to urban planning would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in middle of the park'), incorrect verb tenses ('the fountain is replaced rose garden'), and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are persistent and occasionally distract the reader. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing changes in maps or diagrams. More attention to sentence construction would help reduce the frequency of these errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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