Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph shows that the map of small under development islip town center and in another map its planned development map. There is having a park at east side and school as west side of the town. The main road separates the shops and the housing residential area. There is also having a countryside at the north pole in planned development map of islip town center. In planned development map, the bus station, the shopping center and car parking area is also giving in planned map. There is having a new phase of residential area is showing in planned development map. The directions are given in both maps for understanding the locations of town. In second map, the fully planned map of developed planned map given in it. By comparing both maps, the planned developed map is looking more convenient for residents because every location is fully mentioned in it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the maps but fails to provide a clear overview or a logical summary of the main features. While it mentions the park, school, and residential areas, the description is fragmented and lacks a structured approach to comparing the 'now' and 'planned' states. The student focuses on listing items rather than synthesizing the information, and the final sentence offers a subjective opinion ('looking more convenient') rather than an objective report of the data. To improve, you should group information logically (e.g., transport, housing, facilities) and ensure you highlight the most significant changes, such as the expansion of residential areas and the addition of new infrastructure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow. The progression of ideas is mechanical and repetitive, with almost every sentence starting with 'There is' or 'In... map'. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; instead, the text relies on simple, disjointed sentences. To improve, you should use transition signals (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Additionally') to connect your points and organize your response into at least two or three distinct paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph for the current state, and a body paragraph for the planned changes.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'there is having' and 'planned development map' are used repeatedly, which indicates a lack of lexical variety. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'north pole' (which is geographically incorrect for a town map) and 'giving in planned map'. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure,' 'expansion,' 'relocation,' or 'pedestrianized,' and avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar is consistently weak, with frequent errors that occasionally impede clarity. The construction 'There is having' is grammatically incorrect and is used multiple times. There are also issues with articles ('the school as west side') and prepositions. The sentence structures are almost exclusively simple, with no successful attempts at complex sentences. To improve, you must focus on basic subject-verb agreement and correct sentence construction. Practice using relative clauses and passive voice, which are essential for describing maps and processes in Academic Task 1.

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

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