Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 two maps compare the centre of a small town named as Islip with present Islip and after future planning of Islip tiwn.

Overall, After the planning development of Islip, the total map of Island centre town is changed. Furthermore, it can be seen in present map of Islip that present Islip is not a developed town with many different facilities.

After the planning of development in Islip town centre, there are many new facilities in Islip such the countryside area converted into bus station, shopping center and car park. In current Islip town centre, there is no dual carriageway around the town centre which then developed in future.

Moreover, in future Islip town centre, there are more facilities of new housing than the present Islip. Similarly, the area between shops and bus station, shopping centre, car park develop only for the pedestrians only. Beside these facilities, new housing also be developed which is not in present Islip town centre.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying key changes such as the new housing, the bus station, and the pedestrianized area. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in spatial referencing. For instance, stating 'the total map of Island centre town is changed' is vague. While the main features are highlighted, the comparison between the 'present' and 'future' could be more analytical. The response identifies the key developments but lacks a clear, structured overview that synthesizes the information effectively, which is expected for a Band 6.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is occasionally mechanical. The use of cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Similarly' is present but sometimes forced. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'the total map of Island centre town is changed', which does not clearly link to the visual data. Paragraphing is used, but the logical progression within the paragraphs is somewhat disjointed. The text is coherent overall, but the lack of sophisticated linking and occasional awkward phrasing limits the score to a 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'Isip town centre' and 'facilities'. Phrases like 'countryside area converted into' are functional but basic. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'Island centre town' instead of 'Islip town centre'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise descriptive language related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure', 'residential zones', or 'pedestrian-only zones', rather than relying on general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'named as Islip with present Islip', 'new housing also be developed', and 'which then developed in future'. These errors, while not impeding communication, are noticeable and occur throughout the text. The control over verb tenses and prepositions is inconsistent. A wider range of error-free complex structures is needed to move into the 6.5 or 7.0 range. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence construction often feels clunky.

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

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