Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-30

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 illustrate the huge change in islip town centre where the whole town centre are relocated and rebuild

firstly the road coming from the west to east will be build from straight to circular where almost every building come inside the circular road whereas the school building remains at same location additionally the two new housing will be build .

moreover, no of shops will decline to half in number and in line . secondly, the car parking will also be introduced in new town map and also park will became smaller in size additionally pedestrian area will also been introduced in maps also the two areas that will be introduced in maps are bus station and shopping center while the shopping centre will be the largest building in the also the dual carriagewayis also introduced in main road also there will be a bypass near the new housing

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response identifies the main features of the maps, such as the new circular road, the reduction in shops, and the addition of a bus station and shopping centre. However, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. Some details are presented in a list-like fashion rather than being synthesized into a coherent report. While the task is addressed, the lack of a clear, analytical overview and the somewhat disjointed presentation of information prevent it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the overall trend in the introduction or as a separate paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive use of transition words like 'also' and 'additionally'. The progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of sophisticated cohesive devices makes the text feel disjointed. For instance, the transition between the road changes and the introduction of new facilities is abrupt. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') and varying your linking phrases would significantly improve the flow. The paragraphing is present but could be better structured to group related features together more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a heavy reliance on basic verbs like 'build' and 'introduced'. Phrases such as 'no of shops' (number of shops) and 'became smaller' are simplistic. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or collocations related to urban planning or map description. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary such as 'demolished', 'constructed', 'expanded', 'transformed', or 'redeveloped' to describe the changes more accurately and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'the map illustrate', 'the whole town centre are relocated') and incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'will be build' instead of 'will be built'). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with the overuse of commas and lack of full stops. These errors occasionally impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically passive voice structures which are essential for describing map changes, and ensure consistent subject-verb agreement throughout your writing.

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

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