Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
The maps illustrate the current layout of a small town known as Islip, and plans for future development.
Overall, Islip town will undergo many significant changes after the refurbishment. The Islip town will have several amenities such as bus station and car park. In addition, a dual carriageway will be developed around the center of Islip. Mainly, school and housing will remain unchanged.
An analysis of the plans reveal that the shops on the north side of town will be replaced by a bus station, followed by a shopping centre. Moreover, beside the shopping area, a car park will be developed. Similarly new housing will be constructed on the northeast side of the centre. The existing main road will be transformed into a pedestrian crossing, while a new dual carriageway will be constructed around the centre.
From the plans, it is evident that shops on the south side of town will remain unchanged, whereas park on the southeast side of Islip will be reduced. Furthermore, another new housing will be built on the north side of Islip. While school and housing on the south side will remain unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the maps, including the new infrastructure like the bus station, shopping centre, and dual carriageway. The overview is clear and highlights the main trends, such as the development around the centre and the preservation of certain areas. However, there are some inaccuracies in the description; for example, the student mentions the school remains unchanged, but the map indicates the school is actually removed to make way for the new housing. Additionally, the description of the park reduction is accurate, but the overall reporting could be more precise regarding the spatial relationships between the new developments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organised into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'Similarly', and 'whereas' are used to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a clear purpose. However, the progression of ideas within the second body paragraph is slightly repetitive, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more natural, cohesive narrative.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'refurbishment', 'amenities', 'dual carriageway', and 'pedestrian crossing'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'another new housing', which is grammatically awkward as 'housing' is an uncountable noun. The student attempts to use a variety of descriptive language, but the range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing the changes to the town layout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'An analysis of the plans reveal' (should be 'reveals') and 'another new housing' (should be 'additional housing'). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are occasional slips in article usage and subject-verb agreement. The control of grammar is sufficient to communicate the information without causing confusion, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.