Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-03

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 map illustrates the present look of the city centre in a town called Islip and the plan for its development.

Overall, while some additions were made to the city centre, some areas were expanded, and new building were added in the further plan.

The city centre presently has serval shops located at different areas, a park, school for the children and a housing for the people of Islip. The main road at the middle of the city centre.

The development plan has various additions to the centre, it has a bus station, the shopping centre was moved to a larger space and a car park, a pedestrians way was added and the parking area remained were it was. A new housing area will be built and a dual carriageway will be built just next to were the school has been. The housing area will not charge from where it use to be and the shop will be remain be at a different location.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the new bus station, the dual carriageway, and the expansion of the shopping centre. However, the description is somewhat superficial and lacks precise comparisons. For instance, stating 'the shop will be remain be at a different location' is confusing and inaccurate compared to the visual data. The overview is present but lacks clarity regarding the overall transformation of the town. To improve, ensure that all spatial changes are described with greater accuracy and that the summary highlights the most significant shifts in the town's layout rather than just listing individual features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. There is a lack of logical flow between sentences, particularly in the second paragraph where the description of the development plan feels like a disjointed list of features. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'the parking area remained were it was', which lacks a clear antecedent. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') would help create a more cohesive and professional report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'present look of the city centre' instead of 'current layout' and 'pedestrians way' instead of 'pedestrianised area'. Some words are used incorrectly, such as 'charge' instead of 'change'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the range is limited, and the errors occasionally distract the reader. Focusing on topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'new building were added', 'the main road at the middle of the city centre' (which is a fragment), and 'the shop will be remain be'. These errors in subject-verb agreement, sentence construction, and tense usage are noticeable throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate better control over basic sentence structures and ensure that complex sentences are constructed accurately without repetitive errors.

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

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