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 maps illustrates the plans of a small town's centre called Islip, at present and after its development.
Overall, the Islip town will be changed totally after its redevelopment, each and everything with either a minor change or a major change.
Initially, the main road of the town will be replaced by a dual carriageway, for the convenience of individuals.
The shops near the countryside and the housing will be removed, and will build the shops at the center of the town. They have planned to build a bus station at north-west side, and a shopping centre beside it. A new housing will be built at north-east corner, joining with the dual carriageway.
A car park will also be built on the west side of new housing for the convenience. There will be a way for pedestrians only, near the shops. The housing at the centre will be shifted to south-west side, and a new housing will be built at south-east corner including a parking. The housing at south will be shifted outside the road. School will remain at the same place but its structure will be changed.
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 describing the changes shown in the two maps of Islip. However, there are significant inaccuracies in reporting the spatial relationships and features. For example, the text states that 'the shops near the countryside and the housing will be removed, and will build the shops at the center of the town', whereas the maps show that the old shops along the main road are replaced by a bus station, shopping centre, and car park, while the southern strip of shops remains. Furthermore, the overview is extremely basic, simply stating that the town will change totally. While some main features are mentioned, the lack of precision and inaccurate reporting of specific transformations limit the score to a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing the changes. However, logical progression is weak. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, such as abrupt transitions ('Initially', 'A car park will also be built'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, for instance when describing housing shifts without precise spatial markers. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks smooth linking, resulting in a somewhat disjointed reading experience. This aligns with Band 5.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, heavily relying on the words provided in the prompt ('housing', 'shops', 'town', 'built'). There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'will build the shops' instead of 'shops will be built', and 'joining with the dual carriageway'. Attempts at less common vocabulary are limited and often inaccurate. While the language is adequate to convey a basic meaning, the lexical range is narrow and restrictive, fitting the Band 5.0 criteria.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with voice and tense, such as active/passive confusion ('the housing at the centre will be shifted', 'will build the shops'). Sentences often lack necessary articles or prepositions (e.g., 'at north-west side', 'at south-east corner'). These errors cause some difficulty for the reader and demonstrate limited control over complex structures, consistent with a Band 5.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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