Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-12
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 5.5)
The maps below show the center of islip town at present and a plan for its development. In the first map, we can see the countryside area labelled at the north side of the map where Islip town is located. In the center there is a main road beside it on both sides there are number of shops. In the east, a road is links with the main road which goes towards south to the park. From the west side a road leads to the School located in south of the town. Housing could be seen besides the shops in the south in between park and school. The second map represents the plan for the development of the town. The main road has refurbished into a dual carriageway around the town center and in the center it is only available for the pedestrians only. There are no changes to the shops beside main road in the south but those located in the north had turned into bus station, shopping center and a car park. Beside them in the east new housing has been introduced. The area for the park has reduced but remain at its orignal position. Housing has moved to the west and beside the park new housing has established. School and Housing remained to the west of the town. Overall there are major changes in the sutructure of the town and new buildings and facallities has introduced.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the maps, including the current layout and the proposed developments. You successfully identified the main changes, such as the pedestrianization of the town center and the addition of new facilities like the bus station and shopping center. However, the description of the spatial relationships is occasionally imprecise, such as stating the park 'remained at its original position' when the map shows a reduction in size. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more precise and that the overview clearly synthesizes the most significant trends rather than just listing changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for the two maps, and a brief summary. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. For instance, phrases like 'In the first map' and 'The second map' are used repeatedly. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and referencing techniques to connect sentences more fluidly. Paragraphing is present, but the transition between the description of the current state and the future plan could be smoother.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrians', and 'refurbished'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'sutructure' instead of 'structure', 'facallities' instead of 'facilities', and 'orignal' instead of 'original'. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'a road is links with'. To improve, focus on mastering the spelling of common academic terms and refining your use of collocations to sound more natural and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'The main road has refurbished' (should be passive: 'has been refurbished'), 'new buildings and facallities has introduced' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'beside the park new housing has established' (should be 'has been established'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points. Increasing the accuracy of passive constructions will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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