Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18
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 first map depicts the current state of the centre of a small town called Islip, while the second map projects the future plans for its development.
Firstly, we can observe that the city centre comprises a sandwich structure where the main road is the middle layer between the two shops. Moreover, it is followed by a housing section which focuses on the residential aspect of the city. In addition to that, there is a parking section and a local school facility near the bottom left region of the housing.
On the other side, the future development plan looks promising on paper. We see multiple major clusters segmented region-wise. Starting with a bus station, shopping centre and pedestrian-only lanes. Furthermore, there is an excellent dual carriageway road that would help reduce traffic flow. In addition, we also see two new housing sections planned.
To conclude, the Islip town centre is going to undergo a significant enhancement with a lot of new facilities, with the dual carriageway being a major part of it.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a basic overview of the maps, but it lacks the necessary detail required for a high band score. While you mention the main features, the description is somewhat vague; for example, referring to the town centre as a 'sandwich structure' is imprecise and does not clearly describe the spatial layout. You fail to provide specific comparisons between the current and future states, such as the removal of existing shops or the relocation of the housing. To improve, you should focus on reporting specific data points and changes, such as the conversion of the main road into a pedestrian-only zone or the specific placement of new facilities relative to the old ones.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future plans. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'On the other side', and 'To conclude' to link your ideas. However, some of the transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by better linking the specific features of the maps rather than just listing them. The overall structure is sound, but the flow between sentences could be more natural to achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'projects', 'development', 'segmented', and 'enhancement'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat limited and occasionally imprecise, such as the use of 'sandwich structure' to describe the layout, which is not standard terminology for map descriptions. There is an attempt to use some less common items, but the overall lexical range is not sufficiently wide or sophisticated to reach the higher bands. Focusing on more precise spatial and descriptive language would enhance your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The first map depicts... while the second map projects...' and '...the Islip town centre is going to undergo a significant enhancement...'. While there are some grammatical errors, such as 'the city centre comprises a sandwich structure where the main road is the middle layer between the two shops' (which is slightly awkward), the meaning is generally clear. The punctuation is mostly accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should aim for a greater variety of complex structures with more consistent accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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