Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-10

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 charts depict the layout of the centre of a small town, how it is look recently and planned development.

Overall, the centre is called Islip. The country side is going to demolish in new layout. New facilities and housing areas are going to develop in the centre.

In recent layout, two shops lane are available in the northern side, and between them the main road crossing is there. The countryside is placed at the top of the centre. The houses are available at the centre of town and the southern side. The school is placed at the west-south side, while the park is at the east-south side.

In planned development, the one lane is going to replaced by new facilities such as Bus station, Shopping centre, Car parking. The main road is going to expand all around the town centre with dual carriageway, and the old main road is will be available for pedestrians only. New housing areas are going to available at different areas. The school and park place will remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying the key changes such as the new facilities, the dual carriageway, and the pedestrianisation of the old road. However, the overview is slightly weak; stating 'the country side is going to demolish' is inaccurate as the map shows it being replaced by housing, not simply demolished. While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two maps could be more precise. The response addresses all parts of the task, but some descriptions, such as the location of the shops and the road layout, lack the necessary clarity to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the 'recent' and 'planned' layouts. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In recent layout' and 'In planned development', though these are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing is occasionally awkward, such as 'the one lane is going to replaced'. While the structure is functional, the use of linking words lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'how it is look recently' instead of 'how it looks currently' and 'the one lane is going to replaced' instead of 'one of the lanes is going to be replaced'. The student relies on basic descriptive language. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for map descriptions, such as 'pedestrianised', 'redeveloped', or 'peripheral', rather than repeating simple verbs like 'available' or 'placed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'the old main road is will be available', 'the school and park place will remained unchanged', and 'the country side is going to demolish'. These errors in verb tense and passive voice construction are noticeable. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of control over basic grammatical structures prevents a higher score. More attention to subject-verb agreement and correct passive voice formation is needed.

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

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