Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26
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 given map illustrates the plan to develop Islip for future. The present map shows now and how it's going to be after planned development.
The current map represents a shops near countryside at northern side and between shops there is a main road . In planned town center , The shops are replace by bus station for better traveling and shopping center in northern west. In additional, A car park and new housing would also take place in northern - east direction. In addition, The plan also develop a pedestrians near shops.
Furthermore, We also obeserve a dual carriageway road would build for better transportatio. Not only which connects all developed changes but also give asscess to Good connectivety for business trensfar . Whlie , The school and housing in south remain same. In developed plan it also shows a new residence in West and east near to park.
Overall, The Islip town center future plan seems to be will developed and benefit to future generation. The new residents and Dual carirageway would give more standard life style
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the bus station, housing, and the dual carriageway. However, the description is somewhat imprecise; for example, stating 'shops are replace by bus station' lacks clarity regarding the spatial layout. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the 'now' and 'future' states is hindered by vague language and some inaccuracies in reporting the locations (e.g., 'northern west'). To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are described with greater precision and that the overview clearly highlights the most significant transformations rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'In additional' and 'Not only which connects'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the transition between the road and the housing is abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which specific areas of the map are being discussed. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several spelling errors ('obeserve', 'transportatio', 'carirageway', 'trensfar') and awkward collocations like 'benefit to future generation' and 'standard life style'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic terms to describe the map features. To improve, you should focus on using more precise geographical and planning-related terminology, such as 'residential area', 'infrastructure', 'redeveloped', or 'peripheral', and ensure that spelling is checked carefully to avoid distracting the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('The plan also develop'), incorrect verb forms ('shops are replace'), and awkward sentence construction ('Not only which connects...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and hyphens. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence structure prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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