Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

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 given map illustrates the current situation of Islip town and the future projections towards the town development.

To commence with, the vast majority of development are expected in Islip town. In the recent Infrastructure, roads are narrowed and limited facilities for public citizens. However, there are rapid advancement has been projected in the future plans such as Bus stations, Shopping centre and car park. moreover, there are dual carriageaway also planned for helping local people.

On the another side, schools and parks are originally located on the same side. furthermore, there are advancement in housing to meet people needs. therefore, it has shown that future town has more access to new houses which is on both sides south and in north directions. In addition to it, there are seperate pedestrian path has also been included in the future development.

Overall, there are many public amenities has been interpreted in the future amendments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the Islip town maps. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While you mention the new bus station, shopping centre, and housing, the comparison between the current and future states lacks precision. For instance, you mention 'roads are narrowed' without clearly contrasting this with the new dual carriageway. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a clearer overview of the most significant changes and use specific data or directional markers from the map to support your points, rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'To commence with' and 'On the another side' are used incorrectly or sound unnatural. Additionally, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed; for example, the transition between discussing infrastructure and housing is abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that flows logically from the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'public citizens' (instead of 'residents' or 'the public') and 'future amendments' (which is not the correct term for town planning). You also rely on basic descriptors like 'advancement' and 'development' repeatedly. To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure,' 'residential zones,' 'pedestrianised,' or 'expansion.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement, such as 'vast majority of development are' (should be 'is') and 'many public amenities has been interpreted' (should be 'have been'). There are also errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'on the another side' and 'in the recent Infrastructure.' While you attempt some complex structures, they are often marred by these persistent errors. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your score.

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

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