Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-14
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 illustrate the central area of a small town call Islip as it is now, and its transformation plans.
Overall, it can be seen that, current Islip town has minimalist facilities likewise no bus station and carparking available and also there is no shopping center. However, new plan extandent the town and included the madetory living facilities for example seperate routes for pedestrians, dual carriageway and many more.
Islip town center now, it has a main road and shops on both sides of it. The Countryside is located in north while south side have two housing areas. School location is west-south of the town and and park is present at south-east corner.
Development plan of town, land for the Islip is extanded and countryside included in the town, whole area is covered in dual carriageway. Main road is converted to pedestriand path, whereas shops on the south side remained same. Park area is reduced and near to it a new housing society is added, school is also demolished. Much development can be seen at north side, where shops are replaced with bus station, shopping center, car park ans a new housing.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the current layout and the proposed developments. You successfully identify key changes such as the conversion of the main road into a pedestrian path and the addition of new facilities like the bus station and shopping center. However, the report is slightly hindered by inaccuracies in describing the spatial relationships, such as stating the school is 'demolished' when the map indicates it is relocated or replaced. To reach a higher band, ensure that all observations are strictly supported by the visual data provided and avoid over-generalizing or misinterpreting specific map elements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to specific details of the current and future states. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. Phrases like 'Islip town center now' and 'Development plan of town' are used as transition markers, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, which occasionally forces the reader to re-read to understand the spatial context. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transformation', 'pedestrian path', and 'dual carriageway'. However, there are several instances of non-standard word choices and spelling errors, such as 'extandent' (extended), 'madetory' (mandatory), and 'pedestriand' (pedestrian). These errors are noticeable but do not fully impede communication. To improve, focus on using more precise vocabulary related to map descriptions, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', or 'undergo significant changes', and ensure careful proofreading to eliminate basic spelling mistakes.
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 frequent grammatical errors, particularly with article usage ('the Countryside', 'the Islip'), subject-verb agreement ('south side have'), and sentence construction ('current Islip town has minimalist facilities likewise no bus station'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and missing commas. To achieve a higher score, focus on mastering basic sentence structure and ensuring that articles and prepositions are used correctly. Reducing the frequency of these errors will significantly improve the clarity and professional tone of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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