Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-24
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 provides currently pictorical view of a small town known as Islip town centre, as well as future planned development structure of Town.
Overall, in the current structure, there are commercial area on the both north and west sides of the main road, behind the north side commercial area, there was an country side, while residence area was situated behind the west side of the main roads commercial area, however park for kids is on the east side of the residential houses, and school for kids is on the west side of the residential area.
Moreover, in the planned future development map, they plan to make construction on the north side comercial area and want to made an bus station, shopping center and car parking for the visitors, and replace main road with pedestrians only, furthermore they planned to build new houses on the east side of car parking, and also on the west side of kids park, in contract to that they also plan to make dual carriage way near the kids school.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student attempts to address the task by describing the current layout of Islip and the planned developments. An overall trend or summary is attempted, noting the transition from shops to a shopping and transport hub. However, there are notable omissions and inaccuracies regarding the spatial arrangement. For instance, the student states that the countryside was behind the north-side commercial area, whereas it is located further north. Furthermore, the description misses key features such as the dual carriageway loop surrounding the town centre, mentioning it only tangentially near the school. While the main features are touched upon, the lack of precision in reporting spatial relationships places this response firmly in Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is organised into three paragraphs: an introduction, an overview of the current map, and a description of the planned changes. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'Moreover', and 'furthermore', although some transitions feel mechanical or run-on, as seen in the lengthy second and third sentences. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas lacks clear progression, resulting in overly long, convoluted sentences that make the logical flow difficult to follow at times. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'they plan', without a clear subject. This level of organisation aligns with Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, featuring frequent repetition of words like 'area', 'side', and 'commercial'. There are several word choice and spelling errors, such as 'pictorical', 'counrty side', 'residence area', 'comercial', 'made' instead of 'build', and 'contract' instead of 'contrast'. While the writer attempts some less common vocabulary items like 'development structure' and 'pedestrians only', inaccurate word formation and spelling detract from the overall quality. The lexical range is minimally adequate for the task, fitting Band 5.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak. Many sentences are run-on structures joined by commas rather than proper conjunctions or full stops, such as 'Moreover, in the planned future development map, they plan to make construction... and want to made... and replace...'. There are frequent errors in tense consistency, prepositions, and article usage (e.g., 'an bus station', 'near the kids school'). Complex structures are often faulty. These frequent grammatical errors cause some difficulty for the reader, which corresponds to a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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