Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-27
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 map illustrates the future changes to be done for the centre of Islip, a small town.
Overall, in the given map, the town centre has enclosed itself in one whole dome shape structure.
The map highlights dual carriageway around the town centre. The roads provided in the town are not interconnected whereas in the future development all the facilities are interconnected.
The town centre currently has a main road across the shops which in the planned development is for pedestrians only.Few shops have been removed near the main road and in place of that additional facilities are provided in the map like the bus station and a new shopping centre. Size of the park has been reduced in future development as compared to now.
In the map shown, new housing colony has been established near the park and near the shops. As compared to the current town centre, the planned development includes car parking near the shopping centre.
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, such as the new road layout, the pedestrianisation of the town centre, and the addition of new facilities like the bus station and housing. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the claim that the town centre is enclosed in a 'dome shape structure' is an inaccurate interpretation of the bypass/dual carriageway. Furthermore, the comparison between the current and future states lacks precision; while you mention the park size has been reduced, you could have provided more specific details about the relocation of facilities to better highlight the transformation. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'In the map shown' or 'As compared to'. Some sentences feel like isolated observations rather than a cohesive report. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your points more fluidly, ensuring that the transition between the current state and the future plan is smoother and more logical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes clearly. You use relevant terms like 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrians', and 'planned development'. However, there is a lack of variety and some imprecise word choices, such as 'changes to be done' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'enclosed itself in one whole dome shape structure'. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more sophisticated collocations and precise descriptive language, avoiding repetitive phrasing and ensuring that your vocabulary accurately reflects the visual information provided in the maps.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'in place of that additional facilities are provided' and 'new housing colony has been established'. There are also minor issues with articles and prepositions throughout the text. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would help improve the overall accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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