Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-22
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 plans illustrate how a public park has changed since it first opened in 1920.
Overall, the park has undergone significant redevelopment, with several new facilities being added and some of the original features being replaced. However, the general layout of the park and its main entrance have remained largely unchanged.
In 1920, the park contained a large pond in the centre, surrounded by several flower gardens. There was also a stage for musicians in the north-western corner, while a children’s play area was located in the south-west. A café stood near the eastern entrance, and the park had a number of trees and paths.
Today, the central pond has been replaced by a large circular garden. The flower gardens have also been reorganised, and a fountain has been added in the centre. The former stage has been replaced by a seating area, while the children’s play area has been expanded and modernised. In addition, the café has been replaced by a larger restaurant. New facilities, including a car park and additional seating areas, have also been introduced.
Overall, the park has become more developed and functional, while retaining some of its original features and pathways.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student provides an overview of the changes in Grange Park between 1920 and today, noting the addition of new facilities and the replacement of original features. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies when compared to the visual data. For instance, the student states that in 1920 the park contained a 'large pond in the centre', whereas the actual map shows the fountain in the centre and the pond in the north-east corner. Similarly, the location of the stage, play area, and café are misreported. Furthermore, the summary includes contradictions between paragraphs, such as claiming in paragraph four that a fountain has been added in the centre, while the map shows a rose garden surrounded by seats. These inaccuracies lower the task achievement score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by an overview, body paragraphs describing the past and present, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the text, such as 'In 1920', 'Today', and 'In addition'. However, paragraphing could be improved, as the essay concludes with a redundant final summary paragraph that repeats points already made in the overall section. Referencing between sentences is generally clear, though the informational errors in the content occasionally disrupt the logical progression of the comparison.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a map comparison task, using terms such as 'redevelopment', 'facilities', 'reorganised', and 'modernised'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'surrounded' and 'functional'. However, word choice is sometimes inaccurate due to the misreading of the map features (e.g., confusing a pond with a fountain or placing amenities in the wrong locations). Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary does not impede the reader's basic understanding.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including passive structures ('has undergone significant redevelopment', 'has been replaced') and introductory prepositional phrases ('In 1920', 'Today'). Grammatical accuracy is reasonably good, with the majority of simple structures error-free. Complex structures are attempted with moderate success, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. Errors in grammar do not impede communication, though the grammatical range remains somewhat standard for this task type.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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