Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-23
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 following map illustrates the changes of a small town Islips current situation and its development plans in future.
The major changes are increase in housing, bus station, car park, shopping center and a pedestrian only road. And a circular road has been built around the entire city.
As we can see now, the country side of city is on the northern side. And right next to country side there are shops, with a road running next to shops and on the opposite side of the road there is another row of shops. Moreover, the school of the city is on the southern side of the city. And next to it, there is a residential area within the city. Further more in the middle of the city there is also an residential area. And there is a park n the eastern side
If we see the development plan of the city, the shops are being replaced by a shopping center, with a bus station being built right next to it. A car park is also planned, along with a new housing area. And another ew housing area in the middle of the city right next to the city park. And a Dual carriageway around the city.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying the key developments such as the shopping center, housing, and the new road network. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes. While the main features are mentioned, the comparison between the 'current' and 'planned' states could be more integrated. The response would benefit from a more analytical approach that highlights the transformation of the town rather than just listing the changes in each area. Overall, it addresses the task requirements but lacks the depth of analysis expected for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, with frequent use of 'and' and 'next to'. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the current state to the future plan, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow is hindered by the simple sentence structures and the lack of varied linking words. Improving the use of cohesive devices to connect ideas more fluidly would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'major changes are increase in housing' and 'if we see the development plan' are functional but lack sophistication. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'pedestrian only road', 'dual carriageway', and 'residential area', which is positive. However, the range is limited, and there is a lack of flexibility in word choice. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise descriptive language and avoid repetitive phrasing, focusing on more varied ways to describe spatial relationships and urban development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the country side of city is on the northern side' (missing articles) and 'another ew housing area' (spelling error). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are instances where sentence structure is fragmented or awkward. While the errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring greater accuracy in articles and prepositions would significantly improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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