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 diagram illustrates the information about present town Islip. and idea to construct and to build development in Islip.

Overview, there are lots of changes in present Islip and inn program Islip town. development like car parking, bus station, shopping Centre and new housing areas have been built.

In present there are lots of shops on both side of the main road and in southeast there is a park and in southwest school. and a housing area between park and school. while in north there is countryside.

Islip after intended is so modern and advanced. they remove main road from the center of the town they built dual carriageway around the whole town. In contrast, they construct shopping Centre, bus station, car parking and new housing area on the northwest. they also built new housing in southeast. while the shops in south remain on the same place. and in center they way are for pedestrians only.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the maps, such as the removal of the main road and the addition of new housing and facilities. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the mention of 'lots of changes' is vague and lacks the analytical detail required for a higher band. While the key developments are noted, the comparison between the present and future states could be more precise, particularly regarding the specific locations of the new facilities. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the town's shift toward pedestrianization.

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 mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the abrupt transition 'Overview, there are lots of changes'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences is often disjointed due to fragmented phrasing. While there is a logical progression from the present state to the future plans, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel repetitive and somewhat choppy. Improved use of transition signals would significantly enhance the readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'built', 'construct', and 'housing area'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'inn program Islip town' and 'Islip after intended'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety needed for a higher score. To improve, you should incorporate more descriptive language related to urban planning, such as 'pedestrianized zone', 'infrastructure', or 'residential development'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including issues with sentence structure, punctuation, and article usage. For example, 'In present there are lots of shops' should be 'At present, there are many shops'. There are also fragments, such as 'and in southwest school.', which lack a verb. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and the lack of complex structures limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence completion will help improve your accuracy.

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

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