Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-22
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 given designs demonstrate the center of a small town named Islip as it looks now and the new plan for its development.
Overall, the Islip town center currently has different sectors for example: shops, housing, park, school and roads. But the new planned design is a full moderen and with new added areas and utilized the space more efficiently.
In the current design, the town has more space but has not utilized in efficient way. The main road is not good and also there is countryside which can be used to build different facilities for people.
In the new design, the town looks completely different as the road is designed like a round about and new facilities are added for example a bus station, shopping center and a new car park. Also a new housing are is added which has seperate road from the main road and a dual carriageway is added on the west.
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 student attempts to address the task by comparing the current and planned layouts of Islip town centre, mentioning key features such as shops, housing, the park, and new additions like a bus station and dual carriageway. However, the response falls short in several key areas. Firstly, it includes subjective commentary and personal opinions ('the town has more space but has not utilized in efficient way', 'The main road is not good'), which are inappropriate for an academic Task 1 response where objective reporting is required. Furthermore, some key spatial changes are described inaccurately; for instance, the road is described as a 'round about' rather than a dual carriageway loop, and important details like the pedestrianisation of the central street are omitted. Consequently, the information is only partially selected and reported, fitting the Band 5 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organised into four paragraphs, providing a basic structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing specific features. However, logical progression is hindered by poor transitions and weak cohesive devices. The second paragraph attempts an overview but mixes it with subjective evaluation ('the new planned design is a full moderen and with new added areas'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, and cohesive devices are basic or misused. Paragraphing is present, but the overall mechanical arrangement and lack of smooth progression restrict the score to a Band 5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates a limited but minimally adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using basic terms such as 'shops', 'housing', 'park', 'school', and 'bus station'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('moderen', 'seperate') and imprecise word choices ('housing are' instead of area). Attempts at less common vocabulary are sparse and often lead to awkward phrasing or inaccuracies. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic subject matter, the frequency of errors and limited flexibility place this response firmly at Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but attempts at complex structures often feature grammatical errors or awkward phrasing, such as in 'the new planned design is a full moderen and with new added areas and utilized the space more efficiently.' Punctuation is basic, and there are frequent minor slips with prepositions and verb forms (e.g., 'has not utilized in efficient way'). Although these errors rarely completely impede overall communication, they cause noticeable difficulty and occur frequently throughout the short text, corresponding to a Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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