Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The provided maps illustrate the main changes that are planned to take place in Islip and develop a town centre.
Overall, it is immediately apparent that Islip underwent a dramatic transformation from a predominantly rural town setting into a more modern hub. Furthermore, this redevelopment will be characterised by substantial expansion of dual carriageway at the expense of the north shops.
To begin with, the north side of Islip town centre new facilities will be added first is bus station will be constructed and right side shopping centre will be opened and car park will be constructed. Introduced new road which will go to new housing. Additionally, centre road of town will be replaced by pedestrians area.
Turning to the next details, dual carriageway will be extended surrounding of the town. This road will be connected with school, park and housing. The south side front of the shops will be opened housing as well as new housing.
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 candidate has attempted to address the task by outlining the main changes depicted on the maps of Islip. An overview is provided, noting the transformation into a more modern hub and the addition of a dual carriageway. However, the response contains several inaccuracies and omissions in reporting the specific spatial details. For instance, the text claims that the dual carriageway is built 'at the expense of the north shops,' whereas the maps show a completely new layout replacing the old shops with a bus station, shopping centre, and car park. Additionally, some locations and spatial relationships are described vaguely or incorrectly, such as 'The south side front of the shops will be opened housing as well as new housing.' While the main features are touched upon, the lack of precision and some underdeveloped descriptions place this at Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is structured into four paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions and confusing sentence sequencing. Phrases like 'To begin with, the north side of Islip town centre new facilities will be added first is bus station' show a lack of cohesive fluency and structural control. Furthermore, referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow which areas or roads are being discussed. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within the paragraphs is weak, relying on repetitive or mechanical markers. These issues align closely with the Band 5 descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The lexical range used is quite limited and repetitive. The student uses basic vocabulary such as 'town', 'shops', 'housing', 'park', and 'road' repeatedly throughout the response. There are also noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'north side of Islip town centre new facilities will be added first is bus station' and 'centre road of town will be replaced by pedestrians area.' Attempts to use less common vocabulary are either inaccurate or awkward. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey a basic idea of what is happening on the maps, the errors and limited range restrict the score to Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most complex attempts are either grammatically flawed or awkwardly constructed, such as 'the north side of Islip town centre new facilities will be added first is bus station will be constructed'. There are frequent errors in tense usage, missing articles, and awkward phrasing, including 'Islip underwent a dramatic transformation' (using past tense for a future planned development) and 'surrounding of the town'. Punctuation is also problematic, leading to run-on sentences that impede smooth reading. Because simple sentences are often inaccurate and complex structures are poorly controlled, this performance merits a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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