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 given map illustrates the information about Islip town centre now, and town's development plan. The data has been given in directions.

Overall, the town shows major development over time as north area is totally improved by building bus station, shopping centre, a car park, and new housing, whereas in the south school, housing and park stays at same place.

To begin with, countryside is the major area covered in north, followed by shops, main road and shops towards the middle of the town. From the centre of the town, towards south, there are different houses and most of the area is occupied by housing. Apart from this, school in the south-west direction next to the road, and park in the south-east where road ends.

After development, countryside is replaced by bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing. A new dual carriageway is built that works as a circle around the whole town. School, housing and park stays at same place, but in the middle there is pedestrians crossing, as well as more shops and more houses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, including the significant changes in the north and the relative stability in the south. You successfully identified the key developments such as the new dual carriageway and the replacement of the countryside with infrastructure. However, the overview could be more analytical; while you mention the north is 'totally improved', it would be better to highlight the shift from a rural to a more urbanised, commercialised layout. The description of the 'pedestrian crossing' and 'more shops' in the middle is a good observation, but ensure you clearly distinguish between the current state and the future plan throughout the report to avoid ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised into clear paragraphs, moving from an introduction to an overview, followed by specific details of the current and future states. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Apart from this', and 'After development' helps guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more precise. For instance, in the final paragraph, the phrase 'in the middle there is pedestrians crossing' lacks a clear link to the previous sentence. Improving the flow between sentences would elevate the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dual carriageway', 'occupied', and 'infrastructure' (implied). However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'The data has been given in directions' is unnatural; a better phrasing would be 'The maps illustrate the layout of the town'. Additionally, 'north area is totally improved' is slightly imprecise; 'undergoes significant transformation' would be more academic. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise verbs for describing spatial changes, such as 'demolished', 'expanded', or 'converted', would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles and subject-verb agreement, such as 'school, housing and park stays at same place' (should be 'stay') and 'there is pedestrians crossing' (should be 'there are pedestrian crossings'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band. To improve, focus on consistent use of articles ('the school', 'a park') and ensuring verbs agree with their subjects. The attempt at complex structures is evident, but accuracy needs to be more consistent.

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

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