Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-01

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 two maps of the center of the town of Islip give information about the city currently and in the near future. Although a lot of modification needed to be required.

First of all, according to the ongoing structure of the town, the Countryside required more shops, a school, houses, and a park as well.

Looking more closely at the map prediction the future development needs a lot of construction . The size of the center will increase in oval shape; therefore the countryside will disappear. Moreover, the signal road will be replaced by the Dual carriageway. A lots of new house were built with new facilities. The shops were grouped in a shopping mall. The next point is the garden area which will be smaller. As the city will have more people the school will be bigger.

To sum up, between the actual map and the future planned development a lot of modification are predicted. The city will have changed a great deal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the expansion of the town, the replacement of the road, and the addition of new facilities like the shopping mall and school. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, it mentions that the countryside will disappear, but it fails to provide specific details about the layout or the relative positioning of the new features. The overview is weak, as it does not clearly synthesize the overall trend of the development. To improve, ensure you provide a more analytical summary of the changes rather than just listing them, and focus on comparing the 'before' and 'after' states more precisely.

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 somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'The next point is the garden area'. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the connection between sentences could be smoother. The introduction is slightly disjointed, and the concluding sentence is a bit repetitive. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, moving from general trends to specific details in a more fluid manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'ongoing structure' (referring to the map) and 'signal road' (which is likely a misinterpretation of the map's legend). The phrase 'a lot of' is used repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of the writing. To reach a higher band, try to use more specific terminology related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure,' 'residential zones,' 'commercial development,' or 'expansion,' and avoid repetitive, informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Although a lot of modification needed to be required' (incorrect passive construction) and 'A lots of new house were built' (subject-verb agreement and pluralization errors). Tense usage is also inconsistent, switching between past and future forms when describing a plan. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for future developments, and ensure that passive voice constructions are formed accurately.

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

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