Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-10

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 6.0)

The two maps illustrate the current layout of the Islip town center and show the proposed redevelopment plan from the same site in the future.

Overall, the area will undergo significant changes. The main road and some shops will be demolished and replaced with a residential area. In addition, several new facilities, such as a bus station, a shopping center, and a car park will be added for pedestrians.

At present, the area is relatively simple. Furthermore, shops are located on both sides of the main road. To the north, a housing area is situated near this, there is a school on the southwest part and a park on the southeast part.

According to the redevelopment plan, the area will be completely upgraded. A network of road will be expanded. In the center, shops will be located. In terms of public amenities, a shopping centre, a car park, a bus station and some new houses will be established in the northern part of the area. A dual carriageway will be situated in the southwest corner of the Islip town centre. The park and the school will remain unchanged.

Band-up rewrite

Premium

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the maps as a current layout and a future redevelopment, and your overview recognises substantial change and several new facilities. You also mention the pedestrian-focused centre and the dual carriageway. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: the housing is not north of the shops in the current map, and the school and park are south of the main road, not simply described as southwest and southeast. In the plan, the dual carriageway forms a loop rather than being only in the southwest corner, and the park is reduced rather than unchanged. The central street becomes pedestrian-only, while the northern shops are replaced by facilities. Covering these changes more precisely would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, a description of the current map and a paragraph on the plan. This gives the reader a coherent route through the information. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “At present” and “According to the redevelopment plan” help signal the stages of comparison. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Furthermore” does not add a distinct point, and “To the north, a housing area is situated near this” has an unclear reference and misplaces the housing. The plan paragraph also moves between the centre, northern facilities and the road without consistently describing locations in a logical sequence. Grouping features by area and using clearer references would strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of map-related vocabulary, including “layout,” “redevelopment,” “facilities,” “pedestrians” and “dual carriageway.” These choices communicate the general subject and show some variety beyond basic place names. However, several expressions are imprecise or do not match the map: “completely upgraded” is evaluative, “a network of road” is vague, and “will be located” does not clearly describe the pedestrian-only street or the retained southern shops. “Added for pedestrians” also suggests the facilities are specifically intended for pedestrians, which is not shown. Aim for precise spatial language and accurate terms such as “replaced by,” “retained,” “to the north of” and “encircled by.” This would improve clarity without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the relative clause in “the current layout … and show the proposed redevelopment plan” and the introductory phrase “According to the redevelopment plan.” Most sentences remain understandable, and the future tense is generally appropriate for planned changes. Some grammatical errors and awkward constructions remain, however. “A network of road will be expanded” has a number-agreement problem, while “To the north, a housing area is situated near this, there is a school…” joins two independent clauses with only a comma. The sentence beginning “In terms of public amenities” also has a long list whose structure is not fully controlled. Check singular and plural forms, and divide or connect clauses with appropriate punctuation and conjunctions.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.