Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-10
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 maps illustrate the present and future layout of a small town and its development.
Overall, the town has been completely modernized with new facilities such as bus station, provision of dual carriageway and pedesterian way. However, more space is allocated for new housing.
Presently, shops are located on either side of the main road, whereas housing area is just south side of the premises and park is on the south-east direction of the town centre.
In future developments, padesterian path will be in the centre of the area and its both side there will be some shops on the south side and on the nothern area
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 107 words. This significantly impacts the task achievement, as the description of the maps is incomplete and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the prompt. While you have identified some main features, such as the new housing and the pedestrian path, the analysis is underdeveloped. You have not provided a comprehensive comparison of the two maps, and the description of the future layout is fragmented and incomplete. To improve, you must ensure you cover all significant changes and provide a more thorough summary of the information presented in the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is weak due to the lack of sufficient content. The use of cohesive devices is minimal; for example, you use 'However' and 'In future developments', but these are not enough to create a smooth flow between sentences. The final paragraph is particularly abrupt and lacks a concluding thought or a clear structure, making the overall arrangement feel disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the comparison of the two maps.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You use basic terms like 'shops', 'housing', and 'park', which are appropriate but do not demonstrate a wide range of lexical items. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'pedesterian' (pedestrian) and 'nothern' (northern), which detract from the quality of the writing. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to urban planning and map description, such as 'residential area', 'commercial zone', or 'infrastructure', and ensure that your spelling is accurate throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammatical range is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentence structures. There are several errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'its both side there will be some shops'. The omission of articles is also frequent, for example, 'bus station' should be 'a bus station' and 'park is on' should be 'the park is on'. To improve, you should practice using a variety of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, which are particularly useful for describing changes in map tasks. Additionally, pay closer attention to article usage and subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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