Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-09
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 plans illustrate who Grange park was in 1920 when it was newly opened and the same park today.
Overall, A significant change is seen in the park. The Entrance point remained at the same place. Fountain is replaced by Rose garden. A cafe is also introduced in the park. The glasshouse is removed.
Firstly, In the middle of park there was a fountain in 1920 but now it is demolished and in its place there is a rose garden with seats all around it. On the east corner there was a pond for water plants with is replaced into Childern's play area. A cafe is also built on its right side. The glass house is replaced by a water feature. The rose garden on the left side of the entrance is still there. The stage for musicians is reconstructed into Amphitheater for concerts which is on the west side of main rose garden. A entrance underground car park is also introduced near the water feature.
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 removal of the glasshouse and the addition of the cafe and amphitheater. However, the overview is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from a more formal/botanical layout to a more recreational one. While the main features are reported, the description of locations is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'on its right side' is vague without a clear reference point). To improve, ensure that the overview synthesizes the information rather than just listing changes, and provide more precise spatial descriptions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the paragraphing is unbalanced, with the overview and body content merged into a single block. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical (e.g., 'Firstly,' followed by a lack of subsequent transition words). Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'its right side,' which leaves the reader guessing which feature is being referenced. To improve, use more varied linking words to guide the reader through the spatial changes and ensure each distinct idea or area of the park is given its own paragraph for better logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'who Grange park was' (instead of 'what Grange park was like') and 'replaced into' (instead of 'replaced by'). The term 'demolished' is used correctly, but other descriptions are repetitive. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations related to map descriptions, such as 'transformed into,' 'converted into,' or 'situated in the northern quadrant,' rather than relying on simple verbs like 'built' or 'replaced.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('A entrance,' 'In the middle of park'), incorrect prepositions, and punctuation issues (e.g., 'Childern's' is misspelled). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of definite and indefinite articles. Additionally, try to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice constructions, to describe the changes more fluently.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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