Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)
In a town or society that have one side for a commercial area at main entrance of the society. In commercial area sociaty management to built different shops, shopping centres each and every basic things that have daily needs in one society
The graph shows the different structure of Islip town centre, one graph shows to planned development of the commercial area was two main entrance between east and west side turn around shops and house. In north side bus station, shopping centre, car parking new house between east side. In south side shops, houses already there and new houses and one side park after across the road in south side school and houses to create a map. Pedestrians road that can entrance of the market.
The map of the Islip town centre now both side shops along main road. The south side of main road was different housing and left side school and right side park only prepared by management or people that have live there.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to clearly identify and report the main features of the maps. The description is fragmented and lacks a logical overview of the changes. While the student mentions some features like the bus station and shops, the information is presented in a confusing manner that makes it difficult to follow the comparison between the 'now' and 'planned' states. The response does not adequately highlight the key developments, such as the pedestrianisation of the town centre or the expansion of housing and facilities. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, as the reader struggles to form a clear picture of the town's transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The essay lacks a logical structure. The paragraphs do not follow a clear progression, and the relationship between ideas is often unclear. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas, making the text feel like a series of disjointed observations rather than a coherent report. For example, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the use of referencing is weak, making it difficult to determine which map is being described at any given time. The overall arrangement of information is confusing and lacks a clear, logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary is very limited and often inaccurate, which significantly hinders communication. There is frequent misuse of words, such as 'society' instead of 'town' or 'area', and 'graph' instead of 'map'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the spatial features of the town effectively. Phrases like 'each and every basic things' are informal and imprecise. The student struggles to use appropriate terminology for describing maps or urban planning, relying on repetitive and basic language that does not demonstrate the flexibility required for this task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede meaning. There are significant issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'society that have'), sentence fragments (e.g., 'In commercial area sociaty management to built...'), and incorrect word order. The attempt to use complex structures is largely unsuccessful, resulting in ungrammatical sentences that are difficult to parse. Punctuation is also inconsistent, further complicating the reader's understanding. The majority of sentences contain errors, and there is little evidence of control over basic grammatical structures, let alone complex ones.
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