Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-18
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 map compare the layout of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.
Overall, it is crystal clear that, there are plans for its development in future in a more clear and profound way, with the principal change being the bus station, shopping centre and new housing.
Currently, a single main road runs from west to east through the center of the town, lined by a series of shops on either side. To the north of these shops lies an open area of countryside. To the south, there is a park in the eastern section, a school in the southwest, and some of residential housing directly below the shops.
In the future, the main road cutting through the town centre will be closed off to motor vehicles and transformed into a pedestrian-only zone. The shops on the north side of this road will be demolished to clear space for a new bus station, a shopping centre, a car park, and a fresh block of housing. Furthermore, the dual carriageway will encircle this entire northern development, replacing the existing countryside. However, south of the pedestrian zone, changes will be less in number. The row of shops on the south side of the street will remain intact, as will the school and the existing housing sector. However, the park will be reduced in size to accommodate a brand new housing development.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of Islip town centre now and in the planned future. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the major transformations such as the introduction of a bus station, shopping centre, and new housing. Key spatial changes are accurately compared, including the conversion of the main road into a pedestrian-only zone and the construction of a surrounding dual carriageway. The details are well-supported by accurate references to the visual data, ensuring a clear and comprehensive summary without irrelevant information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised and easy to follow. Ideas are well sequenced, progressing logically from the introduction to the overview, the current layout, and finally the future developments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct stages of the response. Cohesive devices such as 'Currently', 'In the future', and 'Furthermore' are employed naturally to guide the reader through the comparisons, although referencing could occasionally be smoother.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic task. The student successfully incorporates less common lexical items related to urban planning and map descriptions, such as 'transformed into', 'pedestrian-only zone', 'demolished', and 'dual carriageway'. There are minor infelicities, such as 'some of residential housing' instead of 'some residential housing', but these do not impede communication and demonstrate a sufficient range to allow for some precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Complex forms are handled fairly well, as seen in sentences like 'The shops on the north side of this road will be demolished to clear space for...' and 'the park will be reduced in size to accommodate a brand new housing development.' Minor grammatical inaccuracies occur, such as the subject-verb agreement error in the opening sentence ('The map compare'), but overall control of grammar and punctuation is strong.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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