Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The map illustrates the comparison between current design of town and planned development. overall, the most development has happened at the center of town with bus station, shopping center, car park new houses and a road all around the town.
The current status of the islip town center is that is that main road which is split and leads to school at the south east the main road goes through the center, while having shops on roads north and south sides. at the south of shops there is housing. on the east of school there is housing. the main road at the end has branch on the south side which leads to park
the planned version of town center has single road in circle and town center is inside the road which dual carriageway, at east top shops are replaced by bus station shopping center car park and new housing there is pedestrian at the heart of center, and at the south of pedestrians there are shops which unreplaced park and housing are at the same spot but the school is now outside of town center at the south west of carriageway
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying the key changes such as the new road layout, the introduction of a pedestrianized center, and the relocation of facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are mentioned, the comparison between the current and planned states could be more effectively integrated to highlight the transformation. The summary of the 'current status' is a bit cluttered, and some details are slightly inaccurate or confusingly phrased, such as the description of the road layout. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview clearly synthesizes the most significant changes rather than just listing them.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for this task. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and repetitive. The text relies heavily on simple conjunctions and lacks a variety of linking words to guide the reader through the comparison. For instance, the transition between the current state and the planned development is abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to follow the spatial relationships described. Improving the flow through more sophisticated cohesive devices and better paragraph transitions would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There is a reliance on basic descriptive terms like 'main road', 'shops', and 'housing'. While the student attempts to describe the changes, the word choice is often repetitive and lacks variety. There are also some minor errors in collocation and phrasing, such as 'unreplaced park' and 'at east top shops'. To improve, the student should incorporate more specific vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'pedestrianized zone', 'relocated', 'infrastructure', and 'redeveloped'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include missing articles ('at the south of shops'), incorrect verb forms ('is that main road which is split'), and punctuation errors. The sentence structure is often fragmented, which hinders the overall fluency. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and sentence punctuation would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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