Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The map illustrates the changes of Islip town center , comparing with current proposed development in the future.
Overall, it is observe that Islip town will transform with significant changes . The town center developing propose with some layout changes , those are adding Pedestrians area and adding the complete road stretcher along with adding New housing area.
Looking for the first layout of the town area are start with housing is on Shorten side of town , On the left side School are hold the place on west side of town along with north side of town center there are plenty of thing getter like Shops , Main road and Countryside area moreover , Moving toward the East Side there are a Park.
Moving to proposal which for new development area in Islip , the layout are significantly changed, such as remained areas are on the south side have Housing along with School although new addition area on westside which is Dual carriageway , moving to Northside Bus station and car park where added there and north east side changed with adding new Housing are along with then east side remained same with the park.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the current layout and the proposed changes. However, the description of the town's current state is somewhat confusing and lacks precision, particularly in the spatial descriptions (e.g., 'Shorten side of town'). While the main trends are identified, the comparison between the two maps could be more clearly articulated. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes, such as the shift from a simple layout to a more complex infrastructure with a dual carriageway and bus station. To improve, focus on clearer spatial referencing and more precise reporting of the specific features shown in the diagrams.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow of ideas is often hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of clear cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical or missing, making the progression of information feel disjointed. For example, the transition 'Moving to proposal which for new development area' is grammatically weak and disrupts the logical flow. While the paragraphing is functional, the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs significant improvement to ensure that the relationship between the current town and the proposed changes is clearly linked for the reader.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise, which occasionally makes the meaning difficult to follow. There are several instances of word-choice errors and non-standard collocations, such as 'thing getter', 'road stretcher', and 'School are hold the place'. These errors indicate a restricted range of vocabulary for describing maps and spatial changes. To reach a higher band, you should focus on learning specific vocabulary related to urban planning and map descriptions, such as 'residential area', 'infrastructure', 'relocated', 'expanded', and 'demolished'. The current reliance on basic or incorrectly used words limits the clarity of your report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'School are hold', 'layout are significantly changed'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack the necessary complexity to demonstrate a high level of control. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar—such as tense usage and pluralisation—prevents the text from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic agreement errors would significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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