Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The following map represents the change in small town now and plan for its development.

Overall, planned development is way more complicated then the town's current plan with new bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing.

In Islip town centre now from West to East on main road there is a small road on South side leading towards the school and housing. Back on the main road which has shops on North and South side with countryside behind Northern shops. A small road on the South East corner of the shops leads towards a park.

Town's planned development illustrates a big change in which entire area is bordered by a dual carriageway. Center area has changed from main road to pedestrian only. With shops only on South side. Northern side consist of bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing. While Southern side of shops consist of old housing along with new housing and a park connected to the road. School is at same place connected with the road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the maps, such as the introduction of the dual carriageway, the pedestrianisation of the town centre, and the addition of new facilities. However, the response lacks a clear overview that synthesises the most significant changes. While you mention the development is 'more complicated', a more effective overview would highlight the shift from a through-road town to a pedestrian-focused area surrounded by a bypass. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as the location of the new housing, which could be described with more spatial accuracy to help the reader visualise the changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the current state and then the future plans. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, you frequently start sentences with 'A small road' or 'The...'. The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and referencing phrases (e.g., 'In contrast to the current layout,' or 'Furthermore, the proposed plan includes...'). Paragraphing is present, but the transition between the current state and the future development could be smoother to better guide the reader through the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the town's features, such as 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrian only', and 'town centre'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'way more complicated' (which is too informal for an Academic Task 1) and 'Northern side consist of' (subject-verb agreement error). To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and a more academic tone, avoiding informal intensifiers like 'way' and ensuring that vocabulary is used with greater flexibility and accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. These include missing articles (e.g., 'with new bus station', 'at same place'), subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'Northern side consist of'), and punctuation errors. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent article usage and ensuring verbs agree with their subjects will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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