Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The maps below demonstrates the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.

Overall, a lot of new facilities are planned to develope in lslip town which include bus station, shopping centre, car parking, pedestrian zone and several others.

Firstly, looking at the present image of lslip town which have many shops in a line along both side of the road. In the west point of starting of shops, the road takes a turn in south direction and reach to school. Similarly road takes a another turn in south direction fron east ending of shops and reach to park. There are housing area between school and park.

Now, looking at future plan of the town which will going to have a circular road having bus station, shopping centre, car park, new housing area, school, pedestrian zone and a line of many shops below the pedestrians zone. Also new houses and a park area with houses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the maps as showing Islip now and in the future, and you mention several major planned additions, including a bus station, shopping centre, car park and pedestrian zone. However, the account is only partial: it does not explain the dual-carriageway loop or clearly compare which existing features remain, change or are replaced. Some locations are also inaccurate or unclear: the western road is described as reaching the school, whereas it ends north of it, and the eastern road leads to the park. The overview lists facilities rather than summarising the main transformation. The response is 146 words, below the 150-word minimum; the 17 words copied from the task prompt are excluded. Add a clearer overview and more precise comparisons of the key changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, an overview and separate paragraphs for the present and planned layouts. This gives the reader a general sense of the sequence. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited, and the repeated openings “Firstly, looking at” and “Now, looking at” make the organisation feel mechanical. Several details are grouped together without clear relationships, particularly the final list of future features, and “Also new houses and a park area with houses” is difficult to follow. Use clearer topic sentences and organise each map description by area—for example, north of the pedestrian street, then south of it. More precise linking and referencing would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “bus station,” “shopping centre,” “car park,” “pedestrian zone” and “housing area,” so the reader can identify many of the features. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “a circular road,” “a line of many shops” and “a lot of new facilities are planned to develope.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “develope” and “lsl ip” (written as “lslip”), also reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, conventional map language and avoid repeating general terms such as “area” and “road.” More precise choices such as “dual-carriageway loop,” “row of shops” and “planned facilities” would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, but the range is limited and errors occur frequently. For example, “The maps below demonstrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “which have many shops” does not agree with “town.” The future description “which will going to have” combines incompatible verb forms, and “There are housing area” has problems with the article and plural form. Some sentence boundaries and phrasing also make relationships unclear, as in “Also new houses and a park area with houses.” Practise accurate present and future forms, agreement, and articles before adding more complex clauses. Shorter, complete sentences would help communicate the map details reliably.

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

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