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 maps illustrate the present condition and planning for development of the centre of a small town called Islip .
At present , There is a huge countryside in the end of the north side. So the area is echo friendly . A long straight main road can be seen along with shops in both sides. In south side a big proportions are kept for housing area which is very spacious .A park is located in south east side and a school is placed in south west side. The
In the development plan, the straight main road is turned into half circle road and two ways path is created here. Inside of this half circle the middle portion of the road is kept for pedestrians use only. The northside's shop area is divided into bus station, Shopping centre, car park and also new housing area. The shop in the south side is remained unchanged. The new housing area is set infront of park.
school is situated in it's old position .Dual carriageway is set in the main road which is missing now.
However, significant changes can be seen in the development plan for progressing the Islip town centre.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the maps, including the proposed changes to the road layout and the addition of new facilities. You have also made relevant comparisons between the present and future states. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. While you mention 'significant changes' in the final sentence, this should ideally be placed after the introduction to provide a clear summary of the overall transformation. Additionally, some descriptions, such as the location of the new housing, could be more precise to ensure the reader fully understands the spatial changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is generally coherent, and the information is organized into logical paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'At present' and 'In the development plan', to signal the transition between the two timeframes. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing and some mechanical errors, such as the incomplete sentence at the end of the first paragraph. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive, and the connection between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas. Better use of linking words would help guide the reader more effectively through the comparison.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the maps, including terms like 'development plan', 'pedestrians', and 'dual carriageway'. However, there are several instances of inaccurate word choice and collocation, such as 'huge countryside', 'echo friendly' (likely intended as 'eco-friendly'), and 'big proportions'. These errors occasionally distract the reader. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise vocabulary for describing spatial changes and ensuring that collocations are natural. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs would also help to provide a more sophisticated account of the town's development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include incorrect article usage (e.g., 'in the end of the north side'), subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The shop in the south side is remained unchanged'), and punctuation errors. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will also be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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