Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The map illustrate the current layout of islip town center and the proposed plans for its redovelpment.

overall the town center will transfrom from asimple road based area into a pedestrianized zone surrounded by a dua carriage way with expanded housing and new public facities

so that point that i summarise the giving layout.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the broad change from a road-based centre to a pedestrianised area and mention a dual carriageway, housing and public facilities, so the response is relevant and includes a basic overall impression. However, it does not describe the main mapped changes in enough detail: for example, the northern shops are replaced by a bus station, shopping centre and car park, while the southern shops remain. The park is reduced, and new housing is added in specific areas. The response is also well below the required 150 words, leaving these features unreported. To improve, give a clear overview followed by accurate comparisons of the northern and southern parts of the plans.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: the first sentence introduces the maps, and the next gives an overall summary. The use of “overall” signals a shift to the main impression. However, the final sentence, “so that point that i summarise the giving layout,” is unclear and does not develop or connect the information. There is no body paragraph describing the present layout and planned changes, so the reader cannot follow a logical comparison. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and key details, and connect changes with clear references such as “currently,” “in the plan,” and “by contrast.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for describing maps, including “layout,” “proposed plans,” “pedestrianized zone,” and “dual carriage way.” These choices show an attempt to use task-specific language, and the overall transformation is broadly understandable. However, the range is very limited, with no precise terms for the facilities or their locations, and several spelling or word-form errors reduce accuracy: “redovelpment,” “transfrom,” and “facities.” “Public facilities” is also too general when the map identifies a bus station, shopping centre and car park. Build a wider set of accurate map vocabulary and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few sentence forms, including a present-tense introduction and a future-focused overview using “will transform.” The main message can be understood despite the errors. However, grammatical control is inconsistent: “The map illustrate” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “will transfrom from asimple road based area” lacks correct spacing and a clear grammatical construction. The final sentence, “so that point that i summarise the giving layout,” is not a complete, clear sentence. Capitalisation and punctuation are also unreliable. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with clauses such as “while” or “whereas” to make comparisons.

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

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