Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-11
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 6.0)
The maps illustrate the current layout of a small town known as Islip and the proposed plans for its future development.
Overall, the town will undergo many significant changes after redevelopment. Several new facilities will be constructed in the center of town, while the road path will be completely redesigned. In addition, new housing will be developed in the town.
An analysis of the image reveals that the main road of Islip will be converted into pedestrians crossing. Moreover, the shops on the northern side of the town will be occupied by bus station, shopping centre, car park, whilst a new housing will be introduced to the north-east of the town.
From the image it is evident that, entire road path will be reconstructed with a dual carriageway around the town. In addition, shops on either side of main road and housing will be unchanged. Furthermore, new housing will be added beside the previous housing, while the size of the park will be reduced. However, school and housing on the southern side of the town will be unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key features of the maps, including the pedestrianisation of the main road, the new dual carriageway, and the addition of new facilities and housing. The overview is clear and highlights the main trends. However, there are some inaccuracies in the reporting of details; for instance, the student states that shops on either side of the main road remain unchanged, whereas the map indicates they are replaced by a bus station, shopping centre, and car park. This misinterpretation of the visual data prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The information is generally well-selected, but the accuracy of the reporting needs improvement to fully reflect the provided diagrams.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'However' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of information is generally logical, moving from the main road changes to the peripheral developments. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different aspects of the town's transformation. To improve, the student should focus on varying the cohesive devices used and ensuring that the logical flow between sentences is more natural rather than relying on a list-like structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redeveloped', 'pedestrians crossing', 'dual carriageway', and 'reconstructed'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'road path' instead of 'road network' or 'layout', and 'pedestrians crossing' instead of 'pedestrianised zone'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. The student relies on some repetitive phrasing, but the lexical range is sufficient to communicate the main points clearly without causing confusion for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles and prepositions, such as 'the main road of Islip will be converted into pedestrians crossing' (should be 'a pedestrian crossing') and 'new housing will be introduced to the north-east of the town' (missing article). Additionally, 'shops on either side of main road' lacks an article. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. The student demonstrates control over basic structures, but the frequency of minor errors in articles and noun phrases limits the score. More attention to detail regarding sentence-level accuracy is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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