Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09
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 centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.
In addition to the development plans the most noticeable development is the connectivity of the roads and relocation of shops and new construction of transport arrangements.
Furthermore, the construction of the new road now connects the road from the school on the southwest to the park on the southeast side, moreover it also covers the area on the north-west and north-east side which also leads to the new housing located at the east side. In addition the road is now dual-carraigeway instead of a single-carraigeway in the present.
In regards to the main road it will be converted into a pedestrians only pathway and the shops lane will be divided to give space for the new addition of bus station and car park. Moreover, the housing on the south side will be relocated to south-west and there will be a new development of new housing which will be located near the south east side next to the park which has been reduced in terms of space to accomodate the new housing.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 road changes, the pedestrianization of the main road, and the relocation of housing and shops. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it lists features rather than synthesizing the most significant trends, such as the overall expansion of the road network and the shift toward pedestrian-friendly zones. While the response identifies key changes, the description of the road layout is slightly confusing, and the spatial relationships (e.g., 'south-west' vs 'south-east') are occasionally imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most striking transformation rather than just listing individual developments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the development of the town. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for instance, in the second paragraph, the phrase 'the road from the school' is vague, and the transition between describing the road and the housing could be smoother. Improving the variety of cohesive links and ensuring clear referencing would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes clearly. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'dual-carriageway', 'pedestrians only pathway', and 'relocated'. However, there are minor spelling errors, such as 'carraigeway' (should be 'carriageway') and 'accomodate' (should be 'accommodate'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Using more varied synonyms for 'development' and 'construction' would improve the lexical quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'the construction of the new road now connects the road' is slightly redundant, and 'the shops lane will be divided' should be 'the shop lane'. There are also issues with preposition usage and article placement. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and more accurate prepositional phrases would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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