Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-11

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 map compares the current state of islip town centre and its expected changes after planned upgradation.

Overall, Town centre will change significantly after its scheduled development.

Centre will have new dual carriageway that will sorround maximum infrastructure and there will be major change in shop market in the north of main road.

Dual carriageway is planned which will sorround park on east side and shops of north side and a country side on north of main road behind shops. The main road that passes through the shops from west to east of centre will be converted to pedestrians path. School on the South west corner of carriageway will be extended from its north west corner.

In the centre of carriageway, Park in south east corner will be reduced in size and a new housing will be made in addition to previous one on west side of park. Shops on South side of main road will remain untouched in contrast to the North side where a complete new infrastructure will came into existance. Countryside will be included in shops area and Bus station will be built in Northe west corner of carriageway. There will be shopping centre and car park in east side of bus station and a neew housing will be made in North East corner of carriageway with road leading connecting to carriageway.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main transformation: the central east–west road becomes pedestrian-only, a dual carriageway is added, and the northern shops are replaced by new facilities. You also compare the southern shops, park and housing, so the response addresses the key features and gives an overall sense of substantial change. Some details, however, are inaccurate or unclear: the countryside is not included in the shopping area, and the school is shown remaining outside the carriageway rather than being extended. The description of the new northern facilities is also less precise than it could be. To strengthen the overview and move further, report the main changes accurately and distinguish clearly between what is retained, replaced and newly added; for example, mention the bus station, shopping centre and car park in west-to-east order.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, with an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing changes. It also uses some linking expressions, such as “In contrast” and “In addition,” to signal comparisons. However, the progression within the detail paragraphs is difficult to follow: the account shifts between the carriageway, school, park and northern facilities without a consistent route through the map. Repeated references to “carriageway” and “main road” do not always make the locations clear, and several long sentences combine multiple changes. Organise the details by area—for example, north of the pedestrian street, then south of it—and use concise location references. This would create a clearer overall progression and make the relationships between features easier to understand.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “dual carriageway,” “pedestrians path,” “shopping centre,” “car park” and “reduced in size,” which helps communicate the planned changes. There is some attempt at less common wording, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this task: “planned upgradation,” “shop market,” “surround maximum infrastructure” and “complete new infrastructure” are vague or awkward. Spelling errors such as “sorround,” “existance” and “neew” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional terms for map changes and locations, and check spelling carefully. A more controlled range of verbs such as “replace,” “remain,” “be converted into” and “be constructed” would help you describe the plans clearly without relying on broad phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “where” and “which,” but control is uneven. Errors in verb forms and sentence construction appear in examples such as “will came into existance” and “a new housing will be made”; the latter also shows an awkward article and countability pattern. Some sentences are overloaded, particularly the final one, where several facilities and locations are joined together, making the relationships harder to follow. There are also inconsistent articles and prepositions, as in “in east side.” Use shorter, complete sentences for each group of changes, and check future forms (“will be built”), articles and prepositions. This would make your meaning more consistently clear while retaining some complex structures.

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