Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31
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)
We can see a little town in the map, which is located in the middle. It's name is Islip town as shown in first map. The second map illustrates the planned development for the future.
Overall, the old Islip town is not well developed. There are only two housing, One park, and a few shops. The planned development of Islip town centre is very beneficial for the future which included Bus station, Shopping centre, Car park, Two new housing, Two old housing and Dual carriageway.
In the old Islip town centre, there is only one park in south east and a school in the south west that are not sufficient for the people of town. There are only two housing schemes in that area behind the shops of the main road.
In the planned development of the Islip town centre, We can see a significant change in the development and construction. There are three new developments, Bus station, Shopping centre, and car park, and we can see a Dual carriageway which is much better for town.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying the key changes such as the addition of the bus station, shopping centre, and dual carriageway. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the description of the housing is repetitive and lacks precision regarding the spatial layout (e.g., the relocation or expansion of housing). The summary is functional but lacks a clear overview that synthesizes the transformation of the town from a residential area to a more commercialized hub. To reach a higher band, you should focus on comparing the 'before' and 'after' states more dynamically rather than listing features in separate paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'In the old Islip town centre' and 'In the planned development' are used to transition, but the internal flow within paragraphs is choppy. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect the comparisons between the two maps. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the mention of 'two housing' which is grammatically awkward and makes the logical progression of the town's expansion difficult to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple descriptors like 'little town', 'not well developed', and 'very beneficial'. There is little attempt to use more precise or academic vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure', 'residential zone', 'commercial facilities', or 'expansion'. Furthermore, there are errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'two housing' (should be 'two housing developments' or 'two residential areas') and 'in south east' (missing the article 'the'). Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary is essential for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors with articles ('in the map', 'in south east'), pluralization ('two housing'), and punctuation. Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'The planned development... which included Bus station...'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of definite and indefinite articles to improve the overall control of your grammar.
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.