Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-09
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 compares the plan of centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and after the development.
Overall, the planned development has been taken widely. The town now have circular dual carriageway and different new amenities are installed inside the town.
Before the development planned the town have main road which tear a apart from both the side one leads towards the school in south and one leads toward the park in east. Moreover, there are total 16 shops in town, 8 on both side of main road. Behind those shops there are countryside in north and housing in south.
After the development has planned, there are many changes can be noticed. One of the major change is the new bypass is planned which is dual carriage and on that school is implemented in western-southern area and housing is also given outside the bypass. Furthermore, the main road is now pedestrains only and in north side bus station, shopping centre, car parking and new housing is planned in place of old shops and countryside and in south the park area gets smaller in that place new housing is given and the remaining remains as it is.
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 bypass, the pedestrianisation of the main road, and the changes to housing and amenities. However, the description is sometimes imprecise. For example, stating that the school is 'implemented in western-southern area' is vague, and the description of the park area is slightly confusing. While the main features are identified, the overview is somewhat weak; 'the planned development has been taken widely' is not a clear summary of the spatial changes. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most significant transformations, such as the shift from a through-road town to a bypass-oriented layout with pedestrianised zones.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to an overview, then detailing the 'before' and 'after' states. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'After the development has planned' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'in that place new housing is given', which makes it difficult to track the specific locations being described. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that spatial references are precise would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'tear a apart' (instead of 'divided'), 'implemented' (used incorrectly for a building), and 'taken widely'. The student relies on basic descriptive terms. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise geographical and planning-related vocabulary, such as 'bypassed', 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded'. While the meaning is generally clear, the limited range and occasional inaccuracies prevent a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the town have', 'maps compares'), incorrect verb tenses ('After the development has planned'), and awkward sentence construction ('there are many changes can be noticed'). Punctuation is also inconsistent. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. The student should focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that passive voice constructions are formed correctly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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