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 Islip town centre and planned changes to it.

Overall, the centre will become more pedestrian-friendly, with a new dual carriageway built around it and the main road turned into a pedestrian-only zone, alongside several new facilities.

To begin with , in present, shops line the main road, with countryside to the north and housing to the south, along with a school and a small park. In the proposed plan, the countryside will be replaced by a dual carriageway and new housing, the main road will become pedestrian-only with shops, and a bus station, shopping centre, and car park will be added, while the school and park stay in similar positions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features—such as the new dual carriageway, the pedestrianization of the main road, and the addition of new facilities—the analysis is too brief. To reach a higher band, you need to provide more detailed comparisons between the two maps, such as describing the specific location of the new housing or the scale of the changes. Because the response is under-length, it cannot fully address all parts of the task as required for higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving from an introduction to an overview and then a body paragraph detailing the changes. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'In the proposed plan' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, because the text is quite short, the paragraphing is limited. To improve, ensure that you use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between the current state and the future plan is more fluid. The overall structure is clear, but the brevity prevents a more sophisticated flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the maps, such as 'pedestrian-friendly', 'dual carriageway', and 'proposed plan'. These terms are accurate and appropriate for the task. However, the range is somewhat limited due to the short length of the response. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more precise descriptive language, such as 'encircle', 'transform', or 'relocate', to better articulate the spatial changes occurring between the two timeframes. The current vocabulary is functional but lacks the depth required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The grammar is generally accurate, and you have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'the main road will become pedestrian-only with shops, and a bus station... will be added'. There are no major errors that impede communication. However, the range of structures is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more varied complex sentence forms, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The current shops are to be replaced by...') or conditional structures to describe the planned changes. The current control is good, but the limited length restricts the demonstration of a wider grammatical range.

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

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