Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17

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 6.0)

The two map illustrate the centre of small town known as islip before and after plans of its development.

Overall, the town centre is planned to become more developed and pedestrian-friendly. The main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway around the centre, while several new facilities, including a bus station, shopping centre, car park and housing areas, will be added.

In the first map, there were few shops located in centre with more free space. The main road passed through the north side to west in centre of town, whereas school located at western-south corner. By contrast, park is situated at eastern corner in the map. Moreover, by the side of mian road; there is large housing society on the south.

In the second map, there are same noticeable changes which make town centre looks more promising. Main road completely replaced by the pedestrians use only, while northern part of the shops divided into two further partition; western side of shopping centre utilise as bus station and the eastern side used for car parking. In the north-east corner, they introduced new housing development. Park remained on the same place in the east. There is a newly constructed dual carriageway covering whole town centre and school also remained on the same spot in the soutern-western corner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the maps, including the introduction of the dual carriageway and the pedestrianisation of the town centre. You also made relevant comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. However, the response lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, such as the overall shift from a through-road system to a bypass system. While you mention some details, the description of the 'northern part of the shops' is slightly confusing as the map shows these as distinct buildings. To improve, ensure your overview synthesises the main trends rather than just listing features, and double-check the accuracy of spatial descriptions to ensure they align perfectly with the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organised into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In the first map', 'By contrast', and 'Moreover' to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical phrasing, such as 'there are same noticeable changes', which feels slightly disconnected from the previous paragraph. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the transition between the description of the old town and the new development could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the same place') is precise will help elevate your score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'pedestrian-friendly', 'dual carriageway', and 'housing development'. There are some instances of awkward word choice or minor errors, such as 'western-south corner' (should be 'south-western') and 'mian road' (spelling error). Additionally, phrases like 'shops divided into two further partition' are slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your spelling is accurate. Expanding your repertoire to include more sophisticated descriptors for spatial changes would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally hinder the flow. For example, 'The two map illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'shops located in centre' (missing article), and 'Main road completely replaced by the pedestrians use only' (awkward passive construction). While these errors do not impede overall communication, they are persistent. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage (a/the), subject-verb agreement, and the correct formation of passive voice structures. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help you move into the 7.0 band.

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

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