Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-06
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 5.5)
The layout shows the comparion of Islip town centre with current and upgarde plan for the development. Overall, the current centre map will be expaned with multiple facility in the future for the individuals.
At present, on the northside countryside and shops will be replaced with bus station, and shopping centre. The main road will be replaced by pedestrians only in the middle. Whereas new housing will be built in both eat north amd at the south side of the main road. The plaza will have dual carriageway in round about forming a circle covering the town centre folllowed by a new road towards new housing in the north side. In contrast, to support for the upgrading of the plaza car park will be built next to the shopping centre.
On the other hand, the shops towards south next to the main road, park on the east south bound, housing on the south and school at west south will remain the same as before.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify several major planned changes, including the pedestrian-only central street, the new bus station, shopping centre and car park, and the dual-carriageway loop. You also note that some southern features remain. However, the account is only partly accurate: the countryside is not described as being replaced, and the southern park is reduced rather than unchanged. The school and housing south of the loop remain outside it, while the southern shops remain inside; these distinctions are not clearly reported. The overview is also vague, saying the centre will be expanded with facilities rather than summarising its main transformation. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview and describe the locations and changes more precisely.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic structure, moving from an opening statement to planned changes and then features said to remain. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “At present” and “On the other hand” signal transitions. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph shifts between existing and future features, and “Whereas” introduces a fragment-like contrast rather than a complete, well-connected idea. The final paragraph groups several locations together without explaining their different outcomes. Use one paragraph for the overall changes and separate paragraphs for northern and southern areas, with clear references to what changes or remains. This would make the comparisons easier to follow and reduce reliance on broad linking phrases.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You attempt relevant map vocabulary, including “pedestrians only,” “dual carriageway,” “shopping centre” and “car park,” which helps communicate the development. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the description difficult to interpret. Examples include “upgarde plan,” “expaned,” “multiple facility,” and “eat north”; “plaza” is also not an appropriate label for the town centre shown. Spelling errors such as “comparion” and “folllowed” are noticeable. Build a reliable set of terms for describing map changes and locations, and check spelling and word forms. Prefer precise phrases such as “to the northeast” and “the town centre” over unclear or invented labels.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example, “The main road will be replaced by pedestrians only in the middle” and the sentence beginning “The plaza will have dual carriageway…”. However, control is inconsistent, and several sentence patterns are faulty or incomplete. “At present, on the northside countryside and shops will be replaced…” mixes a present-time opener with a future passive and lacks a clear grammatical subject. “Whereas new housing will be built…” is not properly connected to the preceding sentence, while “On the other hand, the shops… will remain…” has an unclear list structure. Articles, plurals and prepositions also need attention. Practise complete comparison sentences with clear subjects and consistent future forms, then check each sentence for agreement and punctuation.
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