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 maps illustrate the

central area of a small town called Islip

in present and the future plans

for its modernisation.

Overall, it is clear that the Islip

town several changes in future. Also,

the crucial changes will be the road

infrastructure improve, the town & will be

more commercial.

At the moment, the center of

Islip town has some shops, residences

and school. First of all, on the north

side of the town there is the

countryside area. Secondly, the commercial

shops are also in the north. The main

road is passing from west to east.

In the middle of the town there are

some resident's houses. on the south-west

corner there is a main educational institute.

Finally, on the eastern part of residential

there is a park.

In the proposed future plan, the

prominent improvement will be the road

infrastructure expands. on the north side

the bus station, shopping center, car park

and new residential society will

be establish. The school will be renovated.

In the end the town will be a

modern and convenient area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the current and proposed town maps. You successfully highlight key developments such as the expansion of the road network and the addition of commercial facilities. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific comparisons between the two maps, such as noting that the countryside area in the north is replaced by new infrastructure. The overview is present but lacks detail regarding the scale of the changes. Ensure that all key features mentioned in the prompt are clearly contrasted to provide a more comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future plan. You use basic cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'Secondly', and 'In the proposed future plan' to signal transitions. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some referencing is unclear, such as 'on the eastern part of residential there is a park'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point to the intended subjects would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modernisation', 'infrastructure', and 'renovated'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the road infrastructure improve' instead of 'improves' or 'is improved', and 'new residential society' which is not the standard term for a housing development. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to urban planning and ensure that words are used in their correct grammatical form. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and articles (e.g., 'Islip town several changes in future', 'will be establish' instead of 'will be established', and 'on the north side'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences starting with lowercase letters. To achieve a higher score, you need to demonstrate better control over verb tenses and passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing maps and future plans. Reducing these frequent 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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