Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-11
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 6.0)
The maps illustrate the current layout of Islip town centre and the proposed changes to its development. Overall, it is clear that town centre is plan to undergo significant development, with changes to road system, shopping facility and housing system.
It is conspicuous that the road system become more developed. It apparently seen that many new facilities are added. For example, shopping and transport. More housing space is added. Some area become pedestrians only.
Looking at northern part of town centre, there are several planned changed. The existing shop will remain, while new bus station and shopping centre will be constructed. A new car park will be constructed in northern part of map.
Turning to the southern part of the town centre, the residential area will also be developed. More houses will be constructed, while the existing school and park will remain in the area. Furthermore, the new road system will provide better access to different parts of the town centre.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the maps, including the new shopping centre, bus station, and housing developments. You successfully identify the key changes, such as the pedestrianisation and the new road layout. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while you mention significant development, you could improve by explicitly contrasting the current state with the future state more clearly in the introduction. The report is accurate, but some descriptions, such as 'many new facilities are added', are a bit vague. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more specific details about the location of these changes relative to the existing landmarks.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organised into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the northern and southern sections. This structure makes the information easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'Turning to' and 'Furthermore' to transition between ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes a bit mechanical or repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression between sentences is smoother, particularly when connecting the description of the maps to the specific changes being proposed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the maps, such as 'proposed changes', 'constructed', and 'residential area'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'shopping facility and housing system'. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations related to urban planning and map description, and ensure that your word choices are consistently accurate throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'town centre is plan to undergo' (should be 'is planned') and 'road system become more developed' (should be 'will become'). Additionally, there are missing articles, such as 'in northern part of map'. These errors occur frequently enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent tense usage when discussing future plans, and the correct use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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