Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Following two maps are elaborating the previous Islip town center before and after the development.

In the map one there are just few basic things and map is quite simple with less facilities. On the north side, there is countryside along with that there are few shops. Right below shops , there are is a main road and after that few more shops are located. On the east side of the map there is a park , way coming from the main road. On the west side of the map there is a school located. Between park and school there is a housing area.

In the developed map, on the north side bus station, shopping center , car park and new housing is located. On the west side of the map there are few modifications including dual carriageway. New housing area has also included. Overall the developed map has more facilites than the previous one.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, but the analysis is quite superficial. You have identified the key changes, such as the addition of the bus station and the dual carriageway, but the description lacks detail and precise comparisons. For instance, you mention 'new housing' but do not specify that it replaces the original housing area or that the original shops were removed. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more comprehensive overview and use more specific spatial language to describe the layout changes. The summary is present but could be more analytical rather than just listing features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a logical approach. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and mechanical. Phrases like 'In the map one' and 'On the north side' are repetitive. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas between sentences or to contrast the two maps effectively. The progression of information is clear, but the flow is somewhat choppy. Improving the variety of transition signals and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') is used more effectively would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple descriptors like 'basic things', 'simple', and 'few'. There is little attempt to use more precise or academic vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure', 'demolished', 'expanded', or 'integrated'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and the occasional awkward phrasing (e.g., 'following two maps are elaborating') limit your score. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific terminology and avoid repetitive sentence starters.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'Following two maps are elaborating' (should be 'The following two maps illustrate'), 'there are is a main road' (redundant verb), and 'way coming from the main road' (fragmented phrase). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to suggest a lack of control over complex sentence forms. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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