Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-24

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 6.5)

The map given below, illustrates the information about the central part of a small town known as Islip, and its before and after developments .

Overall, the visual data depicts that the town is planned to undergo significant redevelopment, with new residential and commercial facilities , a bus station and car park being added. The main road system will also be improved, while the school and park will remain.

At present, the main road runs from east to west through the Centre of Islip The shops were on the both sides of the road. Furthermore, The school was located in the south west, and a park is situated in the south east.

Under the proposed development, the main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway surrounding the central area. A new bus station, shopping Centre and car park will be built in the north western part of the town Centre. The central road will become the pedestrian - only area with shops

In addition, new housing will be constructed in the north-east and south-east. The existing housing in the south-west will remain same

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the Islip town maps. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted the key changes, such as the new road system, the pedestrianisation of the centre, and the addition of new facilities. The comparison between the current and proposed layouts is well-structured. To reach a higher band, ensure that all details are accurately described; for instance, you mentioned the school is in the south-west, but the map shows it in the south-east. Additionally, ensure that the distinction between existing and new features is consistently clear throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by theme. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'At present', 'Under the proposed development', and 'In addition' helps guide the reader through the information. However, there are some minor issues with punctuation and paragraphing consistency, such as the unnecessary space before the period in 'Centre of Islip .' and 'shops .'. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring consistent punctuation would enhance the overall coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrian-only area', and 'constructed'. This allows for flexibility and precision in your description. There are some minor errors in word choice and capitalisation, such as 'Centre' being unnecessarily capitalised in the middle of sentences and 'remain same' which should be 'remain the same'. These errors do not impede communication, but more consistent attention to word formation and standard capitalisation rules would improve the lexical quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'The map given below, illustrates' (unnecessary comma), 'The shops were on the both sides' (incorrect article usage), and 'The school was located in the south west' (tense inconsistency; the map shows the current state, so present tense is more appropriate). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not impede communication. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for minor punctuation errors would help raise this score.

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

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