Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-08
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 two maps describe the center of a small town named Islip as it is now and show plans for its future development.
There are multiple new facilities, housing and shops will be developed and the structure of the town center will also change.
On the current map there is only one main road in the center and on its north side there are many shops and further there is countryside. At the south side of the road also has shops, after that the whole area is of housing. And at the end of the road there is park.
In new planned development whole city is surrounded by dual carriageway. Moving at the south side of the road, first there is school which is at the same place. About and under the road there will be residential area along side there will be new housing developed. Middle of the carriageway there are multiple shops and above the shops there are 3 section of bus station, shopping center and car park respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the new dual carriageway, the relocation of housing, and the addition of new facilities. However, the description of the spatial layout is often unclear. For instance, phrases like 'About and under the road' are confusing and do not accurately convey the geographical changes shown in the diagrams. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the current and future states lacks precision, and the overview is somewhat simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on clearer spatial referencing and a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the relationship between the 'dual carriageway' and the 'residential area' is difficult to follow. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') would help create a smoother flow of information and better connect the ideas within and between paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for describing maps. You rely on basic descriptors like 'many shops' or 'whole area'. There is an attempt to use specific terms like 'dual carriageway', which is positive, but other word choices are imprecise or awkward, such as '3 section of bus station'. To improve, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to urban development, such as 'infrastructure', 'expansion', 'residential zone', and 'pedestrianised area', to better describe the changes depicted in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the' is often missing or misused) and prepositions ('at the south side of the road also has shops'). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'there is school' instead of 'there is a school'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent use of articles and prepositions will significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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