Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The maps display the developmental plans of an area of a town called Islip.

Overall, several newer facilities such as malls, established roads and shops will be constructed to make the town more modernised. After developments, the centre will be transformed from an irregular to a collected, oval shape.

As of right now, a main road stretches straight and is located the south of the countryside. There is a park at the end of the track emerging from the east side of the main road, and a school at the end of the path emerging from the west side of the main road. The park and school are not connected as there is no road pathway between them . There is also a residential area located just between the park and school. There are several shops built linearly to the north and south of the main road, and a housing area to its further south.

After the development plans will be executed, the rural area will also be used to transform the previously straight road into a circular two-way road around the entire centre. This way the park and school will be directly accessed through the connected road. The housing region which is in between the school and park will be shifted slightly to the south. The centre bounded by the dual carriageway will have a track in its very center for pedestrians only. To the south of this track there will be shops built in a straight horizontal line; housing which was previously to the south of the shops will be shifted to the right and new houses will be built next to the park. The park will also be downscaled to reduce the area it covers. To the north of the pedestrian track there will be a bus station, shopping mall, parking lot and another housing block. This housing area will be also accessible through a road emerging from the dual carriageway.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have provided a comprehensive summary of the changes between the current and future plans for Islip. You successfully identified the main features, such as the construction of the dual carriageway, the pedestrian zone, and the relocation of housing. The overview is clear and sets the tone for the report. You have made effective comparisons between the two maps, such as noting the transition from a straight road to a circular one and the downscaling of the park. To reach a higher band, ensure that all descriptions are precise; for example, describing the shape as 'collected' is slightly unnatural. Overall, you have fully addressed all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a description of the current state, and a detailed account of the future developments. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these distinct sections. You use a range of cohesive devices, such as 'As of right now', 'After the development plans will be executed', and 'To the north of the pedestrian track', which help guide the reader through the spatial changes. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is generally clear. The flow is consistent, making the information easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the maps, using terms like 'dual carriageway', 'downscaled', 'pedestrian', and 'developmental plans'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'collected' to describe a shape, which is not standard in this context, and 'emerging from' which is slightly repetitive. However, the vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning without difficulty. You show an awareness of style appropriate for an academic report, and your control of terminology is adequate for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'After the development plans will be executed' (a future tense is unnecessary here; 'are executed' or 'are implemented' would be better) and 'located the south' (missing the preposition 'to'). Despite these occasional errors, your control of grammar is good, and the meaning is never obscured. You use a variety of structures, including passive voice and prepositional phrases, which demonstrates a good level of grammatical competence.

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