Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The maps illustrates the comparison current and future layout of a small town called Islip. Overall, the planned devlopment of the town centre will be redesinged by adding in bus station, shopping centre and new housing. In terms of current layout, the surroundings will have modification with carriageway.

At present, the centre have shops next to the countryside located in the north and south direction, the main road is passing through these shops. Whereas, on the south side housing constructed, followed by a park on the east side and school on the west side. In contarst, the areas is surrounded by a common main road.

In future, the town centre will have major modification of building in bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing by replacing countryside and few shops on the north area. The road between will be redesigined for the pedestrians only to walk around the plaza. On the other side, of the sidewalk new housing will be consturcted for more families to live. While, the park area will be reduced and the school on the west side will be developed for new childerns to attended. The main road connecting will be reconstructed with dual carriageway round-about for every individuals or vehicles to pass easily without an traffic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast between the present town centre and its planned redevelopment, including the pedestrian-only street, new facilities and dual carriageway. The overview also recognises that the centre will be substantially redesigned. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the countryside is north of the northern shops, not something replaced by the new facilities, and the school remains in place south of the loop rather than being redeveloped for children. The park is reduced, while the southern shops remain; these useful comparisons could be stated more precisely. The current layout is also misreported when you place the school west of the park and describe the area as surrounded by a common main road. Covering these features accurately and distinguishing retained from new elements would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs on the current and planned layouts. This gives the reader a basic progression through the maps. Some linking is effective, such as “At present” and “In future,” but other transitions are mechanical or confusing. “Whereas” begins a fragment-like contrast, and “On the other side, of the sidewalk” interrupts the description without clearly identifying the location. The final paragraph also shifts between new buildings, the school and road changes without a clear spatial sequence. Organise each map description from north to south or west to east, and use linking phrases only when they express a clear relationship between features.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “pedestrians only,” “dual carriageway,” “shopping centre” and “reduced,” which helps communicate the planned changes. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “layout,” “surroundings” and “modification.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “common main road” does not describe the current road arrangement, and “round-about” is not shown in the plan. Spelling errors such as “devlopment,” “redesinged,” “consturcted” and “childerns” are noticeable and reduce control. Choose precise terms for map features and check spelling carefully; avoid adding interpretations such as easier traffic flow when the map only shows a dual carriageway.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including contrasts introduced by “Whereas” and “While,” and the main message is generally understandable. However, errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “The maps illustrates” should use a plural verb, while “the centre have shops” also has incorrect agreement. Phrases such as “will be redesigined for the pedestrians only to walk around the plaza” have an unclear grammatical relationship, and “without an traffic” uses an incorrect article. Some clauses beginning with “Whereas” and “While” are not integrated smoothly into complete sentences. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and build complete sentences around contrast clauses before adding more complex structures.

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