Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-06

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 following maps represent the Islip town present condition and after proposed development.

There is a park in the southern part from the main road and if we go west from the park, we can notice that there is housing in the town. In northern part of the housing there are shops in both side of main road. In southern west of the Islip town there is a school available for the students of the town.

In second picture we can see lot of changes after its proposed development. We can notice that there will be new housing in north-east of the town and the main road before will be available for pedestrians only and road will be around the city with dual carriageway. There will be development of bus station and car park in the countryside along with shopping Centre between them.

Overall, if we go through both maps, we can notice the city will be well planned with new facilities and convenient road for both pedestrians and vehicles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the new housing, the bypass road, and the addition of the bus station and shopping centre. However, the description is somewhat basic and lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes. The reporting of spatial relationships is occasionally imprecise, such as 'southern part from the main road' or 'southern west', which makes it difficult for the reader to visualize the layout. To improve, you should focus on grouping information more logically and providing a clearer summary of the transformation rather than just listing features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a Task 1 response. There is a logical progression from the present state to the future developments. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on phrases like 'In northern part' and 'In second picture'. The transition between ideas could be smoother; for instance, the final paragraph attempts an overview but feels slightly disconnected from the preceding details. Improving the variety of linking words would help the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on simple descriptors like 'lot of changes' and 'new housing'. While you successfully use terms like 'dual carriageway' and 'pedestrians', there is a lack of variety in your descriptive language. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure', 'redevelopment', 'peripheral', or 'residential zone', rather than repeating basic terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('in southern west of the Islip town') and prepositions ('in both side of main road'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'the main road before will be available for pedestrians only'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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