Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-17
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 illustrates a middle part of the Islip, a small city town. How it was supposed to be in the construction plan and in real how it is actually seen.
Overall changes can be seen in the north side where countryside was missed in development plan and Park on the east side down was expected to be small. There is also one main missing point can be seen, the dua carriageway that was drawn in the map but did not came to existance.
There are many missing points in map of now a days like bus station, shopping center and adjacent to that a car park on the north side . There was also added new housing on the north east cornor.and below to all these buldings their should have been a road for walking persons.
In the present town map there is countryside that has replaced the dual carriageway. there are so many shops in line can be seen up and down seperated by the main road. while housing and school are still there but another homes colony that was in the west south cornor is now placed in the middle.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The student attempts to describe the maps, but fundamentally misinterprets the prompt by treating the planned development map as a hypothetical or unrealised proposal ('did not came to existance') and treating the current layout as something different from what is shown. Furthermore, key features like the dual carriageway are misread (the dual carriageway is part of the future plan, not the present). While some elements such as the bus station, shopping centre, and pedestrianisation are mentioned, the overall selection and reporting of main features are confused and inaccurate. This corresponds to Band 4.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow and progression are poor. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or incorrectly, such as 'below to all these buldings' and 'while housing and school are still there'. Referencing between the present layout and the proposed changes is confusingly intertwined across paragraphs rather than being clearly structured for comparison. Paragraphing is attempted, but overall organization lacks clarity and coherence, leading to a score of 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'middle part of the Islip', 'city town', 'homes colony', and 'road for walking persons'. Spelling errors also occur, such as 'existance', 'cornor.', and 'seperated'. The lexical range is limited and minimally adequate for the task, which fits the descriptor for Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The student attempts some complex structures, but these are frequently faulty, leading to numerous grammatical errors. Examples include 'How it was supposed to be in the construction plan and in real how it is actually seen' (fragment/unclear structure) and 'there are so many shops in line can be seen up and down seperated by the main road'. Punctuation and article usage are also problematic throughout the response. A score of 4.5 reflects these frequent grammatical breakdowns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.