Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-04
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 5.0)
The map illustrate the Islip the small town Centre in present and how it will look in future after its development.
Overall, It is evident that presently in Islip Town few facilities are available but in future there will be many facilities for People.
At a fleeting glance, it is Immensely clear that school is at same Place and Park is rectangular in shape And In future New housing will be built there. Main Road is in Centre of the shops.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 81 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the student identifies some key features such as the school and the new housing, the description is extremely brief and lacks the necessary detail and comparison required for a Band 1 Academic Task. The overview is very basic and does not adequately summarise the significant changes, such as the addition of new roads, shops, or the pedestrianisation of the town centre. To improve, the student must provide a more comprehensive analysis of all features shown on the maps.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is limited due to the lack of length. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and repetitive way, such as the phrase 'In future'. The logical flow is hindered by the brevity of the sentences, which makes the text feel like a list of observations rather than a cohesive report. To achieve a higher score, the student needs to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that ideas are connected more fluidly across the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'at same Place' and 'at a fleeting glance' are used, but the range is insufficient to describe the spatial changes effectively. There are also issues with word choice and unnecessary capitalisation (e.g., 'People', 'Immenseley', 'Place'). The student needs to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to urban planning and map description, such as 'pedestrianised', 'residential area', 'relocated', or 'expanded', to demonstrate a better range of lexical items.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The map illustrate') and missing articles ('school is at same Place'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with very little attempt at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with random capitalisation of words in the middle of sentences. To improve, the student should focus on basic sentence construction, correct article usage, and ensuring that verbs agree with their subjects. A greater variety of complex structures is needed to move beyond a Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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