Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-26

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 6.0)

The maps show the centre of small town called Islip as it is now and the propsed changes for its future development.

Overall, it is clear that the town centre is planned to undergo significant changes. the main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway, while several new facilities and housing areas will be added.

At present , there is countryside in the northern part of the town, with a main road and a row of shops. In the future, this area will be changed considerably. A bus station , a shopping centre and a car park will be built in the north. In addition, new housing will be developed on the eastern side. The main road will also become a dual carriagway.

In the southern part of the town, the existing housing area and school will remain. However , more houses will be constructed in the central and eastern parts of the town . The park in the east will also remain in the same general location. The shops will still be present , but the road in font of them will become a pedestrian-only area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of Islip town centre now and in the planned future. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, noting the significant transformation from a through-road layout to a bypass system with pedestrianised zones and new facilities. Key details such as the addition of the bus station, shopping centre, car park, new housing areas, and the pedestrianised main street are accurately described and supported by the visual data. The response meets the requirements well and provides a clear summary with relevant comparisons, earning a solid Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organised into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs covering the northern and southern areas. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the maps, such as 'Overall', 'At present', 'In the future', and 'In the southern part of the town'. However, paragraphing could be slightly smoother, and minor mechanical punctuation issues occur, such as a lowercase 'the' at the beginning of the second sentence in the second paragraph ('the main road') and spacing errors around commas (e.g., 'At present ,'). These minor formatting and punctuation flaws keep the score at Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms like 'significant changes', 'development', 'pedestrian-only area', and 'dual carriageway'. There are a few spelling and typographical errors, such as 'propsed' instead of 'proposed' and 'font' instead of 'front' ('in font of them'). While less common lexical items are attempted, these minor slips in spelling and word choice prevent the response from achieving a higher band, placing it comfortably at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The student displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilising future forms ('will be replaced', 'will be developed') and prepositional phrases accurately. There are several instances of punctuation errors, particularly inconsistent capitalisation after periods (e.g., 'the main road' and 'more houses') and spacing before commas (e.g., 'At present ,' and 'However ,'). Despite these recurring mechanical errors, the grammar does not impede communication, and many sentences are error-free, warranting a Band 6.0.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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