Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-29

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 4.0)

There is a plan for development of small town. The maps show the center of small town.

There is two way of enterance in small town that is from west and east side. Therefore; if we enter to the main road in the midlle of road at upper side that is north there a large number of shops are constructed according to the development map. At the back side of shops there are large space are provided for countryside. And at the down side of main road which is south side there are also provided space for shops according to the development map. At the back side of shops they provided a large space for housing at the south side. If we enter from east side to the town after few distance there is ia service road at the left hand means south side which goes to the park. And if we come to the west side after a small distance there is road on the right hand which is actually south side, that goes to the school. The distance between the school and park they left space for the housing

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.0
Coherence and Cohesion4.0
Lexical Resource4.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.0
Overall4.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the maps, but it struggles significantly with task fulfillment. Instead of providing a coherent summary of the changes between the current town and the planned development, the text gets confused between the two maps, frequently referring to 'development map' features as if describing a single layout. Furthermore, key developments such as the dual carriageway loop, the pedestrianisation of the centre, the replacement of northern shops with a bus station, shopping centre, and car park, and the relocation of the park are omitted or inaccurately described. The overview is entirely missing. Therefore, the response falls into Band 4.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The organisation of the text is weak. The writing consists of a single large paragraph without appropriate division, making it difficult to follow the progression of information. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or incorrectly, such as 'Therefore; if we enter to the main road in the midlle of road at upper side that is north there a large number of shops...'. The referencing is frequently unclear, leaving the reader confused about which map or part of the town is being discussed. This lack of logical sequencing and effective paragraphing places the response at Band 4.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and limited, relying heavily on simple words and phrases like 'large space', 'shops', 'road', and 'side'. There are numerous word choice and collocation errors, such as 'two way of enterance' instead of 'two entrances', 'at the down side', and 'few distance'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with little success, and incorrect lexical choices occasionally strain the reader's comprehension. This performance aligns with Band 4.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting mostly of repetitive clause structures connected by 'and' or 'that'. There are frequent and systematic errors in basic grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction. Examples include 'There is two way' (subject-verb agreement error), missing articles ('small town' instead of 'a small town'), incorrect preposition use ('enter to the main road'), and punctuation misuse ('Therefore; if we enter...'). These persistent errors frequently impede communication and place the response at Band 4.

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

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