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)
This maps show the centre of a small town and plans for its development. the town centre will be significantly redeveloped. the main changes nclude the construction of a dual carriageway around the centre, as well as new facilities such as a bus station, shopping centre and car park. At present, the northern part of the town centre contains a main road with several shops, while the surrounding areas are mainly used for housing. There is also a park in the east and a school in the south-west. According to the plan, a dual carriageway will be built around the town centre. The central main road will become a pedestrian-only area. A bus station, shopping centre and car park will be constructed in the northern part of the centre. New housing will also be added in the north-east and southern areas.
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 dual carriageway, pedestrianisation, and new facilities. However, the response is 141 words long, failing to meet the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the overall development of the response, as it lacks a concluding summary or a more detailed comparison of the spatial changes. While the key information is identified, the lack of sufficient length prevents a fully developed response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised logically, moving from an introduction to a description of the current state, followed by the planned changes. However, the paragraphing is poor; the entire response is written as one block of text, which hinders readability. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'At present' and 'According to the plan', but the lack of paragraph breaks makes the progression feel somewhat mechanical and less professional.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'redeveloped', 'construction', 'dual carriageway', and 'pedestrian-only'. There is a limited range of vocabulary, and some repetition occurs (e.g., 'centre' is used repeatedly). The language is functional and conveys the intended meaning clearly, but it lacks the variety and precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several basic grammatical errors, such as 'This maps show' (subject-verb agreement) and missing capital letters at the start of sentences ('the town centre', 'the main changes'). While the sentence structures are generally simple and clear, the frequency of these basic errors limits the score. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which are necessary to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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