Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The diagram beneath illustrates the centre of a minute town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its latest development. There were numerous shops recently. School and park also had in this map. Moreover, There were two housing in this map. After the planned development There were a lot changed in this map. Firstly, Some shops had been destroyed. There were new houses build in new map. School had stay remain at the same place. Park also has same place but it was small than recently. There were new places added such as Shopping mall, Bus station and car park. In addition, New road build around the Islip town centre whish linked all the building. Overall, There were many changed in after the new planned development. Islip town centre
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified some key features of the maps, such as the new shopping mall and the road system, the description is quite basic and lacks a clear overview or a sophisticated comparison of the changes. The analysis is underdeveloped, and the failure to reach the word count means that the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the main trends and include more detailed comparisons between the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into short, somewhat disjointed sentences. While there is an attempt to use cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'In addition', the flow is often mechanical and repetitive. The paragraphing is insufficient, as the response is essentially a single block of text. The logical progression of ideas is hindered by the lack of complex linking words and the repetitive structure of the sentences. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of transition signals and grouping related information into distinct, well-structured paragraphs to guide the reader through your analysis.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'map', 'place', and 'new'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'School and park also had in this map' and 'small than recently'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise descriptive language related to urban planning, such as 'demolished', 'expanded', 'constructed', or 'integrated', and work on using more natural collocations to describe the changes shown in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammatical range is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentence structures. There are frequent errors in verb tense and subject-verb agreement, such as 'There were two housing', 'School had stay remain', and 'New road build'. These errors are persistent and occasionally make the meaning difficult to follow. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which are necessary for a higher band score. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly the use of passive voice for describing developments and ensuring consistent tense usage when comparing the past and future states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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