Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-28

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 maps illustrates the information about the planning for development of Islip which is center of the small town.

Overall, It shows the development they want to make in north, west, east and south. The figure show that they are going to develop the new dual carriageway which will covers the whole areas for the vehicles.

Before that, there was no pedestrians area was developed but their planning to develop that for the safety of pedestrians and then various public shopping centers is planning to open to attract the public in road which is also new development in north side. Moreover, For the safe parking, that also planning to developed in right next to the shopping center.

However, the schools and housing is same, but they are planning to built the new architecture for the new housing which is also north side and the central area should be for pedestrians. Additionally, On the south side, Their was park is also the same but their planning built some new house for the attraction.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the dual carriageway, pedestrian areas, and new housing. However, the description is somewhat imprecise; for example, referring to the 'north, west, east and south' is vague, and the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes. While the key features are identified, the comparison between the current and future states is not fully developed. The summary of the changes to the school and park is also slightly inaccurate based on the provided visual data. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between existing features and planned additions using precise directional language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'and then' or 'also'. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing (e.g., 'that also planning') is unclear, making it difficult to identify exactly what is being referred to. Paragraphing is present but the internal logic within paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider range of linking words to show relationships between the planned developments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is frequent misuse of word forms, such as 'planning to developed' instead of 'planned to be developed' and 'the maps illustrates' instead of 'the maps illustrate'. The range is limited, relying on basic descriptors like 'new' and 'same'. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more academic collocations related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure', 'residential zone', or 'pedestrianised area', and ensure correct word forms are used consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('The maps illustrates'), incorrect verb tenses ('there was no pedestrians area was developed'), and awkward phrasing ('Their was park is also the same'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization after commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement before attempting more complex structures.

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