Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-13
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 map chart Illuestrate information about ,The Centre of small town Islip town Centre now and future after planned development.
By having a cursory glance it is vivid that , Islip town Centre now the north side of build country side .on the north and south side some shops are located and the both side of Shops Centre main rode is located . after that many houses are present while , the west side school is present and the east side small park is located and some trees were there
On the other hand , Islip town Centre after development road were constructed both side of village . on the north side country side ,
Shops were replaced with bus station , shopping Centre , car park and some new houses were built. moreover , main road area replaced with pedestrians only . furthermore. in the south side new houses were built . on the west side dual carriageway are present
overall, in the Islip town now and after planed development is many changes while, many houses were built and around the town large road were constructed
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to describe the changes between the two maps, but it fails to provide a clear overview or effectively highlight the most significant developments. While the student identifies some features like the bus station and the dual carriageway, the description is often confusing and lacks precision. For example, stating that 'the north side of build country side' is unclear, and the summary of changes is somewhat disjointed. The response covers the main features but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band, as the comparisons between the 'now' and 'future' states are not clearly articulated or structured logically.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which is a positive step, but the internal flow is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and poor punctuation. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes misused, such as the repetitive use of 'furthermore' and 'moreover' without clear logical connection to the preceding sentences. Referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout of the town. The progression of ideas is not smooth, and the lack of proper sentence boundaries significantly impacts the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'houses', 'shops', and 'road'. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'Illuestrate' (spelling), 'main rode' (spelling), and 'build country side' (incorrect collocation). The student struggles to use precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'located in the north-east' or 'replaced by'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the information with the necessary precision for an Academic Task 1 response, often leading to ambiguity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede clarity. There are significant issues with sentence structure, including fragments and run-on sentences. Punctuation is used incorrectly throughout, with commas placed randomly and periods missing or misplaced. Verb tense usage is inconsistent, particularly when describing the future development, where the student mixes past and present tenses inappropriately (e.g., 'road were constructed', 'new houses were built'). The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, error-prone sentences, with no successful attempts at complex grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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