Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-25

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 map illustrate the changes in islip town center now and islip town center development in future.

overall, today the town contain countryside in the middle of north and then there are several shops after this there is a main road and in opposite there are bunch of shops,

in the south east there is park cover in square area connected to the main road. In the opposite there is school in south west attached to main road and some houses in middle of park and school.

on the contrary, engineers develop plan for town, beside they add commercial services. the main road is replace with bus station in north west, beside shopping center, car parking in north and new housing connected to road. shops place remain the same. school is at same place and park also in old place. however direction of house is changes into horizontal beside the park is in south.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying key changes such as the introduction of a bus station and new housing. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview that synthesizes the most significant trends. The spatial descriptions are occasionally imprecise, such as describing the countryside as being 'in the middle of north'. While the task is addressed, the lack of a clear, analytical summary and the somewhat disjointed reporting of features limit the score. To improve, focus on grouping related changes and providing a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a logical approach. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and often repetitive or misused. For example, the transition 'on the contrary' is used incorrectly to introduce the future plans, as it does not contrast with the previous paragraph in a logical way. Referencing is also weak, with phrases like 'in the opposite' and 'beside this' lacking clear antecedents. The flow between sentences is often choppy, making the progression of information feel mechanical rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple descriptors like 'place', 'side', and 'middle'. There is little attempt to use more precise vocabulary related to urban planning or spatial description (e.g., 'pedestrianized', 'transformed', 'relocated', 'adjacent'). Some word choices are awkward, such as 'bunch of shops' or 'park cover in square area'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of range and the frequent inaccuracies in collocation prevent a higher score. Expanding your repertoire of descriptive verbs and nouns is essential.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('the map illustrate', 'town contain'), missing articles ('in north', 'in south'), and tense usage ('main road is replace'). Sentence structures are predominantly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often marred by errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with run-on sentences and missing commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as these errors occur throughout the text.

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