Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The map illusrates the information about developent plan to re-establish the centre of a small town known as Islip now and in future .

In the north direction, there is a countryside which would be remove in future and shop will be rebuilt into bus station in north west area. while, shopping centre and car park will construct in north side. Also, new housing in the north east direction. Moreover, main road will be convert into pedestrian road .

School which is situated in the south west direction and park in south east direction will shows same in the planned development would be at same place, respectively. however, there will be no change in the shops which locates near pedestrians side. while, new houses would be construct near the park. Also, there will be construction of dual carriageway witness all around the centre.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main features of the map, such as the new housing, the bus station, and the pedestrianisation of the main road, the overview is underdeveloped. The description of the changes is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the overall transformation. Furthermore, some details are inaccurate or confusing, such as the mention of a 'dual carriageway' which is not clearly supported by the visual data provided. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview and strictly adhere to the word count.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by awkward transitions and repetitive sentence structures. You use some cohesive devices like 'In the north direction' and 'Moreover', but these are often used mechanically. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks the necessary flow to guide the reader effectively through the comparison of the two maps. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear topic sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'north', 'south', 'new', and 'change'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'illusrates' instead of 'illustrates' and 'developent' instead of 'development'. You also struggle with word choice and collocation, for example, 'witness all around the centre' is not an appropriate way to describe the construction of a road. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary related to urban planning and spatial description, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', 'adjacent', or 'peripheral'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly regarding verb forms and sentence construction. For instance, 'would be remove' should be 'would be removed', and 'shopping centre and car park will construct' should be 'will be constructed'. The use of articles is also inconsistent. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty, which impacts the clarity of your message. To improve, focus on mastering passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing map changes, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout your sentences.

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

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