Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-12
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 layouts compared the Islip town current Centre and plans for development.
Overall, planned development of Centre will extend various facilities also introduce some new features. Therefore, current town Centre offering limited facilities.
Currently, the Centre has shops, main road, housing, park and school facilities. The layout illustrate that, In the north and south side of the main road there are several shops. The parking area is in the eastern side also school located in west side of the maps. Wherever, Two housing sectors situated one is in front of the shop another one is located in the south side.
Therefore, Redevelopment shows some changes also added few new features. It will become a circle shape with dual carriageaway and the shops of north side converted into bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing. In front of this there will be a way which can be use by only Pedestrians. The park becomes small infront of it there are housing and new housing
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 by describing the current layout of Islip and the proposed changes, such as the new dual carriageway and the replacement of shops with a bus station and shopping centre. However, the overview is rather weak, and some details are inaccurate or confusingly expressed, such as stating that the park 'becomes small infront of it there are housing and new housing'. While the key comparisons between the current and future layouts are attempted, the overall development is not fully or clearly integrated. Consequently, the response satisfies the criteria for Band 5.0, as it addresses the task partially with some underdeveloped and unclear descriptions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into four brief paragraphs, starting with an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for the current and future layouts. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions, such as 'Wherever,' and 'Therefore,' used inappropriately. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it hard to follow which specific areas of the maps are being described. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is mechanical and repetitive. This aligns with Band 5.0, where there is some organisation but a lack of clear overall progression and inadequate use of cohesive devices.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple terms like 'shops', 'housing', 'park', and 'school'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'layouts compared the Islip town current Centre' and 'dual carriageaway'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'redevelopment', are often marred by grammatical or collocational inaccuracies. The lexical range is minimally adequate for the task, but vocabulary limitations cause some difficulty for the reader. This performance reflects Band 5.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic subject-verb patterns. Attempts at more complex structures frequently result in serious grammatical errors, missing verbs, and incorrect prepositions, such as 'The layout illustrate that, In the north and south side...' and 'a way which can be use by only Pedestrians'. Punctuation and article usage are also inconsistent throughout the text. Frequent errors in grammar and sentence structure cause some difficulty for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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