Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The maps illustrate the current layout of the centre of a small town called Islip and plans for its further development.

Overall, the town centre will undergo significant changes, with the addition of several features like a car park, a shopping centre, a bus station, a dual carriageway, two new housing schemes and a pedestrian way. Although certain areas remain largely unchanged with only minor modifications, others have been relocated.

Currently, the centre of Islip features a main road running from west to east. There are several shops adjacent to the main road on both the northern and southern sides. Additionally, two smaller roads connect to the main road and extend toward the southern side of the town, featuring a school and a park on the southwestern and southeastern sides, respectively. The area between these two facilities is dedicated to residential housing.

Turning to the planned development, the town centre is expected to have considerable infrastructure changes. The main road will be transformed into a pedestrians-only area, completely surrounded by a new dual carriageway. While the school will remain in its current location, outside the ring road, the northern shops and countryside will be replaced by a bus station, a shopping centre, a car park and new housing. Meanwhile, the park will be relocated to the southeastern corner inside the loop. The southern shops will be located adjacent to the pedestrians-only way, whereas the old and some new houses will remain inside the dual carriageway and shops, with the park. Finally, some houses will also be built outside the dual carriageway on the southeastern side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the significant changes and successfully highlighted the main features, such as the transformation of the main road into a pedestrian zone and the addition of the dual carriageway. The comparisons between the current layout and the proposed plans are accurate and well-integrated. You have managed to report the spatial changes clearly, such as the relocation of the park and the addition of new housing. The information is well-selected and logically presented, ensuring the reader can easily follow the development plans.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that distinguish between the current state and the planned developments. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Turning to the planned development', 'Meanwhile', and 'Finally' helps to guide the reader through the information smoothly. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the description of the current town from the future plans. The progression of ideas is logical, and the referencing of locations (e.g., 'southeastern corner', 'outside the ring road') is precise and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have demonstrated a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and urban development. Phrases like 'undergo significant changes', 'pedestrians-only area', and 'infrastructure changes' are used accurately. The vocabulary is sufficiently varied to describe the spatial relationships and the nature of the changes without being repetitive. While the language is natural and precise, there is room to incorporate even more sophisticated collocations to reach the highest band, but the current level is strong and clearly communicates the intended meaning without any errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'Although' clauses and passive constructions ('will be transformed', 'will be relocated'), which are appropriate for this type of task. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. There is a good balance between simple and complex forms, and the accuracy is consistent, allowing for a smooth and professional reading experience.

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

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