Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-05

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 6.5)

The maps below illustrate the present layout of the centre called Islip located in a small town and its proposed plan.

Overall, the building is planned to undergo significant redevelopment. Although spaces dedicated to school, housing, shops and park will remain the same while there would be an addition of new commercial facilities as well as the construction of dual carriageway encircling the town centre. The main road will be designated to pedestrians-only.

At present, there is countryside in the north, containing a rows of shops directly below it with main road between them. The park is located in the southern-east section, just facing the road leading off from the main road, while the school is present at the bottom of the map. An enlarged space in the centre has been dedicated to housing.

In the future, the town centre would be surrounded by the dual carriageway, with an addition of a bus station near to the upper dual carriageway, with shopping centre, a car park and new housing from west to east. Notably, the main road will be transformed to pedestrians only, containing a row of shops just directly below it. In addition, the park area would be reduced and will contain a new housing nearby.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the maps, including the new dual carriageway, the pedestrianisation of the main road, and the addition of new facilities like the bus station and housing. The overview is clear and highlights the main trends effectively. However, there are some inaccuracies in the description of the spatial layout; for instance, the student mentions the park is in the 'southern-east' section, whereas it is clearly in the south-west. Additionally, the claim that the park area is reduced is slightly ambiguous as the map shows it being replaced by housing. Overall, the response provides a good summary of the main changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organised into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the present and future states. Cohesive devices such as 'At present', 'In the future', and 'Notably' are used to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing of locations could be more precise to improve the flow of information. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the development of the task.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'designated', 'encircling', and 'transformed'. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'containing a rows of shops' (should be 'a row of shops') and 'southern-east' (should be 'south-east'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. The range is functional but does not consistently demonstrate a flexible or precise use of less common lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the building is planned' (the map shows a town centre, not a single building), 'a rows of shops' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'pedestrians-only' (incorrect usage). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor slips in article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. A greater variety of error-free complex structures is needed.

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

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