Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The maps illustrate how the centre of lslip will look now and after development.
Overall, the north area of shops will convert in different departments, while the north-east corner new house will remove in future plan. Other places will move.
Countryside area will remove in future plan, while the north side shops will remove. New bus station and shopping centre will added in new development. North-east side house will remove from plan. South side shops will move to centre. Car park will added in new plan. School area will expanded after new development.
One way road will convert into dual carriageway. Housing will move from centre to East-side. Shops and other areas between one path will added in new plan. New path will added, which access for only Pedestrians only. South-east corner park size will reduced after new development in future. Central housing will move to south-west corner and nearby carriageway.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the new bus station, shopping centre, and road changes. However, the description is often inaccurate or confusing. For example, stating that the 'north-east corner new house will remove' is repetitive and unclear, and the claim that 'countryside area will remove' is a misinterpretation of the map's visual data. The overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. While the response addresses the task, the lack of precision and the inclusion of confusing details prevent it from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on grouping related changes logically rather than listing them in a disjointed manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. The progression of ideas is difficult to follow because the sentences are mostly simple, repetitive lists of changes. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; for instance, the transition between the description of the shops and the road changes is abrupt. The use of referencing is also unclear, making it hard for the reader to track which area is being discussed. To improve, use linking words like 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'subsequently' to connect sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Words like 'remove', 'move', and 'add' are used constantly, which restricts the ability to describe the changes with precision. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'will added' (passive voice error) and 'will convert in different departments' (incorrect preposition). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the spatial changes effectively. To improve, learn specific verbs for map descriptions, such as 'demolished', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'transformed', and ensure correct collocations are used to describe urban development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with passive voice constructions (e.g., 'will added' instead of 'will be added' and 'will remove' instead of 'will be removed'). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors and the lack of complex sentence structures limit the score. To improve, practice the correct formation of the passive voice, which is essential for describing map changes, and try to combine simple sentences using relative clauses or conjunctions.
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.