Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-13

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 7.0)

The maps illustrate the layout of the center of a small town known as Islip at present and a plan for future redevelopment.

Overall, the Islip town center is projected to undergo significant redevelopment, with several new facilities being added and some of the original features removed. Some features are going to be added, including a dual carriageway, new housing, a car park, a bus station and a shopping center. A few things are forcasted to be removed, such as the countryside area, one row of shops, while the purpose of the main road will be changed.

Currently, a countryside area is present in the north side with two rows of shops. There is total of sixteen shops on either side of the main road. Two housing areas are present: one in the middle of Islip town center and the other is in the south side with a school to its left. There is a park in the south-east side which is connected to the main road.

In the future, the countryside area and the first row of shops are likely to be removed and a bus station, a shopping centre, a car park and a new housing area are projected to be added in this place. A dual carriageway is predicted to be built in the future redevelopment, while the park area is going to be reduced. A few things like a school, a south-east housing area and the second row of shops are expected to be unchanged, while the main road is going to be used for only pedestrians. Two new housing areas are predicted to be added: one to the left of the park and the other near the dual carriageway.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the two maps of Islip town center. The overview paragraph effectively highlights the main general trends, noting the significant redevelopment involving the addition of new facilities and the removal of the countryside and original shops. Key features, such as the new dual carriageway, pedestrianised main road, bus station, and various housing developments, are accurately reported and contrasted with the current layout. Comparisons are made effectively throughout the response, ensuring that the visual information is fully captured. The progression from the present layout to future plans is logical and well-structured, fulfilling the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response to a high standard.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from the introduction to the overview, current layout, and future developments. Paragraphing is used appropriately and effectively separates different aspects of the visual data. Cohesive devices are handled competently, using transitional phrases such as "Currently" and "In the future" to guide the reader smoothly through the temporal shifts. Referencing and substitution are generally well managed, though occasional minor cohesion choices could be more varied. Overall, the text flows logically and ideas are sequenced coherently, fully supporting the reader's understanding without any jarring disruptions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to describing maps and urban development. Appropriate lexical items and phrases are used, such as "projected to undergo significant redevelopment," "dual carriageway," "pedestrians," and "redevelopment." While there are minor instances of repetition or slightly less precise phrasing, such as "A few things," the overall vocabulary effectively communicates the spatial changes. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, with no errors that impede communication, allowing the response to achieve a solid band 7.0 for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer exhibits a good control of grammar and punctuation, incorporating a variety of complex sentence structures to describe future plans and current states, such as passive constructions like "is projected to be added" and "are predicted to be built." There is a frequent presence of error-free sentences, and the minor errors that do occur—such as the slight typo in "forcasted"—are rare and do not impede communication at all. The complexity required for map analysis is well-managed, showing a strong control over tense and modal structures when comparing present and future scenarios.

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