Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The maps compare the present and the future developmental planning of a place known as Islip. A this time, the town center has a one main road that leads to the park on eastern side while to the school on western direction with the housing scheme between them. On both sides of trunk route, several shops are present along the road and countryside is in the north. However, the planned development of the central part of Islip society will have a one grand road, that will originate to two paths making round pattern as dual carriageway, that links with the bus station in the west with a shopping mall, an area for car parking and a new housing hub which will meet to the circular road moving from the west to the east. On the other hand, the construction of a footpath only for pedestrians along with line wise shops is illustrated in the map for the future downtown. The park remains in the same direction in both maps that will join with houses in the east and the main urban area will have more residential area as compared to the present colony. In addition to this, the school will be in the southern side beside the dual carriageway.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the current layout and the proposed developments. You successfully identify key changes such as the new dual carriageway, the pedestrianized zone, and the relocation of facilities. However, the overview is somewhat integrated into the body paragraphs rather than being a distinct, clear summary of the main trends. While you mention the park remains, the comparison between the two maps could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most significant changes (e.g., the shift from a simple road to a complex circular system) more explicitly at the beginning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized logically, moving from the current state to the future plans. You use some cohesive devices like 'However', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition to this' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as one block of text. IELTS Task 1 responses should be clearly paragraphed to separate the introduction/overview from the detailed body paragraphs. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing of locations (e.g., 'the same direction') could be more precise to improve the flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrians', and 'developmental planning'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'Islip society' instead of 'the town of Islip', 'line wise shops', and 'present colony'. These errors occasionally make the text sound unnatural. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to urban planning, such as 'infrastructure', 'residential zone', or 'pedestrian-only area', rather than descriptive phrases that do not quite capture the intended meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'A this time' (At this time), 'the town center has a one main road' (the town center has one main road), and 'that will originate to two paths' (which will branch into two paths). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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