Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

The supplied maps compare the current layout of the Islip town centre with its planned developmental design.

Overall, it is immediately apparent that the central main road will be transformed into a dual carriageway encircling almost the whole centre and new housing will be built.

Currently, the town centre is comprised of a straight central main road which separates the two rows of shops surrounding the road. The two extensions of the main road from the verge of the southern shops lead to a school at the west while a park at the east. Finally, there are two housing societies between the school and the park.

After its development, the Islip town hall will be surrounded by a dual carriageway and the main central road track will be used by pedestrians. The northern shops will be repurposed into a bus station, a shopping centre, a car park and a new housing connected to carriageway while the southern shops will be unaltered. The school and park will also remain at their current locations but a new housing will be constructed besides the park.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response effectively identifies the main features of the Islip town centre maps. You successfully highlight the key changes, such as the new dual carriageway and the repurposing of the northern shops. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the transformation. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in detail; for instance, you mention the town hall is currently there, but the map shows it as a new feature in the development plan. Additionally, the description of the housing locations could be more precise. Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the current state from the future plans. Cohesive devices such as 'Currently', 'After its development', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be slightly more sophisticated to enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'repurposed', 'encircling', and 'unaltered'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'housing societies' (which is not the standard term for residential areas) and 'main central road track'. These do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Using more precise terminology for urban planning would improve the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'a new housing' (housing is uncountable) and 'besides the park' (beside is the correct preposition here). While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause confusion or impede the reader's understanding. The majority of your sentences are clear and accurate. To improve, focus on article usage and the distinction between similar prepositions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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