Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The map shows the center of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.
overall, there are many changes in islip town centre new development its add a new housing scheme and bus station and one dual carriageway and one circle road around the islip town centre.
The map indicate some changes to development planned shops converted the shopping centre and west side of the shopping centre construct a new Bus station and east side of shopping centre convert a car parking and south side of shopping centre main road convert a predestrians only and east side of car parking became a new housing society and all around town centre draw the boundry and in the middle of town centre make a new shops and south side of the shops construct a new housing schemes and park and outside the boundry west side new dual carriageway and in south side of boundry housing and school.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the new housing, the bus station, and the road changes. However, the report lacks a clear structure and fails to effectively compare the 'now' and 'future' states. The description is somewhat repetitive and lists features rather than synthesizing them into a coherent summary. While the main changes are identified, the lack of a clear overview and the somewhat disorganized presentation of spatial information prevent it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure you group features logically (e.g., transport, residential, commercial) and provide a more analytical comparison of the two maps.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks proper paragraphing, which is essential for a clear report. The text is presented as a single block, making it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the repetitive use of 'and' to link clauses. There is no clear logical flow between the introduction and the body of the report. To improve, you should organize your response into at least three paragraphs: an introduction/overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on specific areas or types of development. Using transition words like 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'additionally' would help improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'make', 'add', and 'construct'. There are also several errors in word choice and form, such as 'predestrians' (pedestrians), 'boundry' (boundary), and 'housing society' (housing development). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the changes with precision. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied and accurate terminology related to urban planning, such as 'demolished', 'expanded', 'transformed', 'pedestrianized', or 'residential area'. Focusing on spelling and using more precise nouns and verbs will significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'map indicate'), missing articles (e.g., 'in south side'), and awkward sentence structures. The sentence construction is mostly simple, with very few attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with a lack of proper capitalization and sentence boundaries. To improve, focus on basic sentence structure, ensuring each sentence has a clear subject and verb. Practice using complex structures like relative clauses or passive voice, which are particularly useful for describing map changes, while paying closer attention to articles and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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