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 above map, show the center of a small town called Islip as it is now and plans for its development.

Overall, the shape of the city center is changed to the round in shape with dual carriageway and amenities like bus station, shopping center and car park. T he new pedestrians road has been added.

The main road runs from east-west with shops on both the sides. The countryside area was there the houses were in the central and on the southern side. The park was in the southeast side and the school was in the southwest side.

The proposed plan included the new dual carriageway and was round in shape. The new things were added on the north side like bus station, shopping center and car park. The shops remain same but the roads was replaced with pedestrians only . The new housing society was added in north east side and southern parts. The school was on the same side. The park also remain in the same place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, including the new dual carriageway, the pedestrianization of the central road, and the addition of new amenities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the 'now' and 'proposed' states could be more effectively integrated. The report would benefit from a more sophisticated summary that highlights the transformation of the town's layout rather than simply listing changes in each paragraph. Overall, it addresses the requirements of the task but lacks the depth of analysis expected for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the proposed plan. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'The new things were added' and 'The school was on the same side' feel somewhat disjointed. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas smoothly. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is basic and occasionally mechanical, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Terms like 'new things', 'shape of the city', and 'remain same' are functional but lack the precision and variety required for a higher score. There is little attempt to use less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations related to urban planning (e.g., 'infrastructure', 'redevelopment', 'pedestrianized zone'). The repetition of simple verbs and nouns limits the range. To improve, you should incorporate more descriptive and topic-specific vocabulary to convey the changes more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'The above map, show' (subject-verb agreement), 'the shape of the city center is changed to the round' (awkward phrasing), and 'the roads was replaced' (subject-verb agreement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, such as the spacing error 'T he'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over complex structures, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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

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