Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-09

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 maps illustrate the planned before and after development of a small town Islip.

overall it includes several changes into the centre part of the map. the process will show us the new infrastucture and how it will be look like.

initially,the main road will be removed from center part, however the center road will become path for pedestreian only. secondly the incomplete road infront of the school will be converted as a dual carriageway all over around the town.Shops at the country side will be reconstucted as new shopping centre along with bus station and a car park.

Subsequently,shops from the southern side near housing will still remaining moreover a new housing complex will establish at the northern east side of the town, as well as a new housing complex will be constructed at the southern east side of the town.In addition to the park area wil be compromise during this development

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major changes, including the pedestrian-only central street, the dual carriageway, the new bus station, shopping centre and car park, and additional housing. These are relevant features and show an understanding of the planned development. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the shops north of the main road are replaced by three facilities, rather than being reconstructed as a single shopping centre, and the new housing is northeast and south-central, not simply in the southern east. The park is reduced in size, rather than merely “compromise[d].” The overview is also vague (“several changes into the centre part”) and does not clearly summarise the main pattern of redevelopment. A more precise overview and fuller comparison of what remains, changes, or is added would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from an overview to changes in the road system and then to shops, housing and the park. Linking expressions such as “initially,” “secondly,” “subsequently” and “in addition” help signal progression. However, the organisation is not consistently clear: the opening overview is vague, and the body combines several locations and changes in long sentences, making relationships between features harder to follow. “Moreover” and “as well as” connect details mechanically, while the final point about the park is not developed. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the main changes, and group details by location or by transport and land use. Clearer referencing and more precise transitions would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “dual carriageway,” “pedestrian only,” “shopping centre,” “car park” and “housing complex,” so the reader can identify many of the planned features. There is also some attempt to vary wording, for example “removed,” “converted” and “constructed.” However, spelling errors such as “infrastucture,” “pedestreian” and “reconstucted” are noticeable, and several word combinations are unnatural or imprecise: “planned before and after development,” “shops at the country side,” and “park area wil be compromise.” These choices sometimes make the intended change less clear. Aim for standard map-description phrases such as “the existing layout,” “shops to the north,” and “the park will be reduced in size,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “however” and a sequence using “as well as.” Some relationships between changes are understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. For example, “the process will show us the new infrastructure and how it will be look like” combines incompatible verb forms, while “shops … will still remaining” and “a new housing complex will establish” have incorrect verb constructions. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention: “a small town Islip” should be “the small town of Islip,” and the opening “overall” should begin a new sentence with a capital letter. These errors sometimes obscure meaning. Practise consistent future passive forms for planned changes, such as “will be replaced” and “will be built,” and proofread sentence punctuation.

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