Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-03
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 5.5)
The map illustrate the current layout of the centre of the small town of islip and the proposed redevelopment plan.
Overall, It is crystal clear that ,The town centre is is set to undergo extensive modernisation. The most significant change will be the construction of a dual carriageway encircling the centre, while the existing main road will become a pedestrian-only street. In addition, New commercial, transport and residential facilities will be introduced, whereas the school and most of the existing shops will remain.
At present, The main road runs from east to west through the centre of islips, with rows of shops lining both sides. To the south of this road lies a large residential area, together with a school in the south-east. Beyond the shops on the northern side is open countryside.
According to the development plan, traffic will be diverted onto a newly constructed dual carriageway forming a ring around the town centre , while the current main road will be pedestrainised. The row of shops on the southern side of the street will remain unchanged, but those to the north will be replaced by a shoping centre. The school, However, It will remain on constant location. Although it will beneficial from improved road access via the new ring road.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the key features of the current map and the proposed changes, such as the dual carriageway, the pedestrianisation of the main road, and the new shopping centre. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant trends, which is essential for a high band score. You have made relevant comparisons between the two maps, such as noting that the school remains in its original location while other areas are modified. The information is well-selected and logically presented, providing a comprehensive summary of the development plans.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the current state from the future plans. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'At present', and 'According to the development plan' to guide the reader. However, there are some minor issues with punctuation and capitalization that slightly disrupt the flow, such as the unnecessary comma after 'clear that' and the random capitalization of 'New' and 'However'. Improving the consistency of your paragraph transitions and refining punctuation would help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and urban development, such as 'modernisation', 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrianised', and 'diverted'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'islips' (should be Islip), 'pedestrainised' (pedestrianised), and 'shoping' (shopping). Additionally, the phrase 'remain on constant location' is slightly unnatural; 'remain in its original location' would be more precise. Despite these minor inaccuracies, your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly and with some flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors that affect the overall accuracy. For example, 'The map illustrate' should be 'The map illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), and 'It will beneficial' should be 'It will benefit' or 'It will be beneficial'. There are also issues with unnecessary commas and capitalization, such as 'The school, However, It will remain'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and punctuation would be beneficial.
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