Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The map illustrates the center of a small town called Islip at present and plans for its development.
Overall, the Islip town center will experience sever development in the future including the redevelopment of bus station, shopping center and an extension of the housing. Shops have been rebuilt. Housing and school remained in the same place.
At present, the countryside in located in the north-east. There was another shop located on the south side. The park was situated on the south side. School was located in the west-east. There was two housing on the other side of the main road.
The planned development has some significant changes housing on the south side has been relocated and new housing have been built near the park. There was a dual carriageway in the west side. The road has been rebuilt with a structured way. School and housing on the south side remained in the same place.
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 attempts to summarize the main features of the maps, noting key changes such as the introduction of a dual carriageway, pedestrianization, and new facilities like a bus station and shopping center. However, there are notable inaccuracies and omissions in reading the visual data. For instance, the student states that 'countryside in located in the north-east,' whereas the map shows it in the north. Additionally, some descriptions are vague or inaccurate, such as 'School was located in the west-east.' While an overview is present, the information is not fully developed, and some details are misreported, placing this response at Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organized into four short paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the maps. However, the logical progression is weak, and sentences often feel disconnected. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as 'At present, the countryside in located...' and 'The planned development has some significant changes housing...'. Paragraphing is used, but the overall flow is choppy, with abrupt transitions between ideas, aligning with Band 5.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with several instances of incorrect word choice and collocation, such as 'sever development' (severe/significant development), 'redevelopment of bus station' (redevelopment of the bus station), and 'in located' (located). While the student attempts some task-specific vocabulary like 'dual carriageway', 'pedestrianization', and 'relocated', the frequency of lexical errors and limited range restrict the score to Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and attempted complex structures, but frequent grammatical errors impede clarity. Examples of errors include tense confusion ('countryside in located', 'There was two housing'), missing articles ('Shopping center', 'School'), and incorrect punctuation or run-on phrasing ('significant changes housing on the south side'). Because errors occur frequently and sometimes cause difficulty for the reader, the grammar fits the Band 5.0 profile.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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