Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-02
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 maps display the Centre of a small town named Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.
Overall, in the planned development, we can see that a new bus station, shopping centre, car park, two new housings and a main road is to be constructed in town.
In current version of town, a countryside is located on the north side, but it is planned to remove it. The main road is planned to removed from the center and to construct it around the town. Shops will be removed and a bus station, shopping centre and a car park would be constructed and will me visible from road. To the east side of them a new housing is also planned which will be linked to the main road. Another New housing will also be constructed to the west side of park. The park will me shorter in size as in comparison with the present. The shops then, will be located beyond the new pedestrians path . The school will remains same in location but linked with main road.
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, including the removal of the countryside, the relocation of the main road, and the addition of new infrastructure like the bus station and housing. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant changes. While the key features are identified, the comparison between the current and future states could be more sophisticated. The mention of 'two new housings' is slightly inaccurate as the map shows two separate housing areas, and the description of the park's size change is a bit vague. Overall, the response addresses the prompt adequately but lacks the depth required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into an introduction and a body paragraph, but the lack of a clear paragraph break between the overview and the detailed description makes the structure feel cramped. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on simple transitions like 'In current version' and 'The shops then'. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'The school will remains same in location but linked with main road'. More varied linking words and better paragraphing would improve the logical flow and readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'In current version of town' instead of 'In the current layout' and 'a countryside is located' (countryside is usually an uncountable noun). Phrases like 'will me visible' and 'will me shorter' contain spelling errors that distract the reader. While the student successfully uses terms like 'constructed' and 'infrastructure-related' vocabulary, the range is limited, and the errors in word formation and collocation prevent a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The school will remains same'), incorrect article usage ('a countryside', 'a main road is to be constructed'), and awkward passive constructions ('is planned to removed'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation indicate a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and passive voice.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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