Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The two maps illustrate the current layout plan and the proposed redevelopment plan in future of a small town known as Islip.

Overall, the centre of the town has been planned to be well organised after the future modernisation along with addition of new amenities including a dual carriageway, shopping centre, bus station and car park area.

Presently, the centre of Islip is designed in a horizontal pattern which has countryside in the north and housing areas in the south. There are two housing areas. Moreover, the main road is above the housing area , having multiple shops on each north and south side. Additionally, the main road is bifurcated at east and west side. These roads lead to the park and school respectively.

After redevelopment, the town will be organised and enclosed with a dual carriageway. Furthermore, the area of the Islip will be segregated by the line of shops in upper and lower areas. The upper part will have amenities of bus station at the extreme left, car park at the right side and shopping centre in the middle. All these facilities have footpath for pedestrians. A new housing area which will be well connectivity to dual carriage, will be positioned at the eastern corner of the map. The southern section will have two residential areas, one is situated at the right side and nearby, there will be a park. The school will be located at the southwestern edge of the dual carriageway along with that there will be another housing region will be built just below the dual carriageway.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the maps and provided a clear comparison between the current and proposed layouts. You covered all key changes, such as the introduction of the dual carriageway and the relocation of amenities. To reach a higher band, ensure your overview is more analytical; rather than just stating the town will be 'well organised,' highlight the most significant transformation, such as the shift from a linear road structure to a bypass-enclosed town centre. Your description of the locations is generally accurate, though some spatial relationships could be described with more precision to help the reader visualize the changes more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the current and future states. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'Additionally,' and 'After redevelopment' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the final paragraph (e.g., 'along with that there will be another housing region') is a bit clunky. Improving the flow between sentences by varying your linking words and ensuring pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the maps, using terms like 'bifurcated,' 'segregated,' and 'amenities' appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'well connectivity' (should be 'well-connected') and 'horizontal pattern' (which is slightly ambiguous in this context). While you successfully convey the necessary information, incorporating more precise geographical or planning-related vocabulary—such as 'peripheral,' 'centralized,' or 'infrastructure'—would demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'in future' (should be 'in the future'), 'on each north and south side' (should be 'on both the north and south sides'), and 'have footpath' (should be 'have footpaths'). Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'will be well connectivity to dual carriage.' While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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