Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-29

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 illustrations compare the future development plan of a small town known as Islip.

At a glance, it is clear that several changes will occur on this site. These include renovating existing area, improving facilities, introducing new features, expanding roads, and many more.

Looking at the map in detail, a new dual carriageway road will border the central town area, forming a ring road. Inside the surrounding road, the norther part on the town will undergo total redevelopment. The existing shops will be demolished to make a new bus station in the north-west, shopping centre and a car park in middle. Besides this commercial facilities, a new housing complex will be introduced connecting to the ring road.

Regarding other changes in the souther region, the current main road will be replaced by a pedestrians only and the shops below the main road will remain untouch. The current housing in the middle will be shifted closer to the carriageway in south-west, and new housing will be constructed. However, the school, housing outside the road will rem

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview and identifies the main features of the proposed development. You successfully highlight the ring road, the redevelopment of the northern area, and the pedestrianisation of the main road. However, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence ('rem'). This failure to finish the summary prevents a full development of the final points, such as the school and the housing outside the ring road. While the key features are addressed, the lack of a conclusion and the unfinished nature of the final paragraph mean the task is not fully completed, which limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different geographical areas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'At a glance', 'Looking at the map in detail', and 'Regarding other changes'. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the flow and coherence of the final section. Additionally, some transitions are slightly mechanical. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that the transition between ideas is smoother, particularly when moving from the northern redevelopment to the southern changes.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dual carriageway', 'redevelopment', 'demolished', and 'pedestrianisation'. There are some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'norther part' (northern) and 'shops below the main road will remain untouch' (untouched). These errors do not impede communication, but they do show a lack of precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring correct word forms throughout your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the norther part on the town' (of the town), 'Besides this commercial facilities' (these), and 'souther region' (southern). The sentence structure is generally functional, but the incomplete final sentence is a significant issue. To improve, pay closer attention to prepositions and adjective forms, and ensure that all sentences are completed with proper punctuation to maintain grammatical integrity.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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