Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-28
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)
**(Task 1)**
The maps illustrates the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its redevelopment.
Overall, there are five locations which are located in the map of Islip town centre including park, school, housing, shops, countryside and main road further there are plans for its refurbishment.
Initially, Islip town centre now, there is school in western side of map along with this housing are situated in the mid of town centre whereas, the main road consists two shops left and right side area, in which area leds Northern part of map. The map also consists countryside residential area with shops.
Furthermore, after planned redevelopment of Islip town centre, the road cover all the area around the facilities. The shops located in the mid of the map. while, park remain at same location along with school. However, the new housing is next to shops whereas, new housing area also available near pedestrians. Moverevry Bus Station, shopping centre including car
park situated in Northern area of map in sequence.
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 response attempts to compare the two maps of Islip town centre, successfully identifying several key changes such as the introduction of a dual carriageway, pedestrianised central street, and new facilities like a bus station, shopping centre, and car park. However, the overview is somewhat superficial and lists random features rather than summarising the overarching transformations. Furthermore, some spatial descriptions are vague or inaccurate, such as stating that 'the shops located in the mid of the map' when the northern shops are replaced and the southern strip remains. Key details regarding what was removed (e.g. countryside) and the relocation of housing are partially missed or clumsily expressed. This places the response in Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
Paragraphing is attempted, with an introductory sentence and separate body paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. The transition between sentences often feels disjointed due to poor cohesive devices, such as 'Initially, Islip town centre now...' and 'Moverevry Bus Station...'. Referencing and linking are frequently faulty, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial relationships smoothly. While there is a basic chronological or structural division between the present map and the future plan, the overall internal cohesion within paragraphs lacks clarity, leading to a Band 5 score.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple terms like 'map', 'area', 'shops', and 'housing'. There are notable word-form and word-choice errors, such as 'refurbishment' (rather than redevelopment), 'leds' instead of leads, and typos like 'Moverevry'. The range of vocabulary is limited and minimally adequate for describing map changes, failing to demonstrate the precision and collocation required for higher bands. This clearly aligns with Band 5 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at more complex structures (such as 'in which area leds Northern part of map') are heavily flawed and ungrammatical. There are frequent basic errors in subject-verb agreement ('The maps illustrates'), tense consistency, missing articles, and prepositions ('in western side' instead of on the western side). These persistent errors frequently cause strain and difficulty for the reader, fitting the criteria for a Band 4.5, which rounds to Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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