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 represent the centre of town known as islip.The first map shows the current town center however second map shows how town,s centre will look in future.

Overall there are remarkable changes planned for future.Some new places are planned to be built and aome are extended.

In north side shops and main road is replaced by bus station , shopping center ,parking area and new housing society.The buildings which are extended are houses while park and school remains at same position and there is no extension in their area.

In conclusion,Shops at the top of map were replaced and new building are added to centre. Main road is also diminished and pedestrians only is also planed in future model of map.Dual carriageway is also planned which surrounds the whole town from all sides .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad purpose of the maps and give an overview of major changes, including the new facilities and the planned dual carriageway. However, the account is only partial: it does not explain the southern part of the plan, such as the retained shops, new housing, and reduced park, and it incorrectly says the park and school remain in the same position. The school remains outside the loop, but the park is smaller and its surrounding layout changes. The claim that the carriageway surrounds the town “from all sides” is also too broad. The response contains 135 words, below the required 150, which limits the detail available. Add accurate comparisons and cover both the northern and southern areas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, an overall statement, a description of northern changes, and a concluding summary. This gives the reader some structure, and phrases such as “Overall” and “In conclusion” signal the stages of the response. However, the progression is not fully effective because the conclusion repeats earlier points rather than adding a clear comparison, and the southern changes are largely omitted. The second paragraph also combines several distinct features in one sentence, making the relationships between them less clear. Organise the body by area or by what is retained and changed, and use linking expressions to show those comparisons rather than relying mainly on formulaic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “bus station,” “shopping center,” “new housing,” and “dual carriageway,” which helps communicate the main planned developments. There is also an attempt to describe change with “replaced,” “extended,” and “diminished.” However, the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural: “new housing society” is not an appropriate label for the map, while “main road is diminished” does not clearly describe its conversion to a pedestrian-only street. Spelling and form errors such as “aome” and “planed,” along with inconsistent spelling of “centre/center,” are noticeable. Use precise terms such as “converted,” “retained,” and “reduced in size,” and check spelling and consistency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response uses mostly simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to combine ideas using “however,” “while,” and “which.” These attempts show some range, but errors are frequent enough to make parts of the description awkward or unclear. For example, “The first map shows the current town center however second map shows” needs clearer clause punctuation and an article before “second map.” In “park and school remains,” the plural subject requires a plural verb, while “shops and main road is replaced” also has a subject–verb agreement problem and an unclear singular/plural relationship. Several sentences lack appropriate punctuation or articles. Practise accurate compound sentences and check agreement, articles, tense consistency, and sentence boundaries.

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