Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-16
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 gives the information about the changes in Islip town center at present and what it will look like after new planning.
Overall, there are major changes in the center with different amenities including car parking, new housing , and other facilities for the common people.
At present the map shows basic infrastructure like main road and shops on each side of the road connecting with school and a park with housing with no proper connectivity.
The newly proposed highly planned development includes different amenities and infrastructure. the shops on the northern side are to demolished adding a Bus station, Shopping center, Car parking with a New housing proposal on the northern side and adjacent to the park with proper road connectivity, the whole tower will be engulfed in a circular shaped road connecting every infrastructure for the public with a dual carriageway comparing to the what it is at present.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by describing both the present map of Islip town centre and the future development plan. An overall trend or change is noted in the second paragraph, mentioning the addition of amenities like car parking and new housing. Key features are reported, such as the pedestrianisation of the central street, the replacement of northern shops with a bus station and shopping centre, and the introduction of a dual carriageway loop. However, some descriptions are slightly imprecise or run-on, such as 'the whole tower will be engulfed in a circular shaped road'. Nevertheless, the main features and comparisons are successfully made, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 6, fitting well within the Band 6 descriptor for addressing all parts of the task adequately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a four-paragraph structure: introduction, overall summary, current layout, and proposed changes. Cohesive devices are attempted, such as 'Overall', 'At present', and 'The newly proposed', but paragraphing and flow can feel a bit mechanical. The third paragraph is a single lengthy sentence containing multiple clauses ('At present the map shows basic infrastructure...'), which affects readability. Pronoun referencing and transitions between ideas are sometimes strained, particularly in the final, run-on sentence. Overall, the essay shows a coherent arrangement, but cohesion is occasionally faulty, leading to a Band 6 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with appropriate terms such as 'infrastructure', 'amenities', 'pedestrianisation' (implied by context), and 'dual carriageway'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'to demolished' instead of 'to be demolished', and the unusual phrasing 'the whole tower will be engulfed'. Spelling is generally correct, but the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive in places. These lexical inaccuracies do not impede communication, placing the response securely in the Band 6 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ability to use subordinate clauses and participial phrases. However, grammatical control is inconsistent. There are major punctuation and sentence boundary issues, notably the final sentence, which is an extremely long run-on clause containing multiple distinct thoughts ('...the shops on the northern side are to demolished adding a Bus station... comparing to the what it is at present'). Errors such as 'are to demolished' and missing articles or prepositions occur. Because these errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader and reflect a limited grasp of complex sentence control, a score of 5.5 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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