Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

The given maps illustrate the plans for Islip town's development.Here are two maps: the first map shows the centre of town, and the second map describe the development plans for Islip town.

"To begin, the first map shows a main road with shops lining both sides.""A school, a park, and a housing area are located on one side of this main road."The second map shows a development plans of Islip town centre.In this map Dual carriageway assign to the town for development and School and Housing area avalable to the side of the road and others area's are located into the centre of Dual carriageway.

Firstlly,I decribe a first map,in this map shops lines are available around the main road and others areas such as Housing, School and park are located on the one side of main road.Forth directions such as Nourth south Easth and weast are given into the first map.The second maps fully based on the development of Islip Town.In this map's are describe a different area's into the map such as Bus station, Shopping centre, Car park, New housing, Pedestrians only,Shops,Park.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the two maps and mention several relevant features, including the main road, shops, school, park, housing, and proposed bus station, shopping centre and car park. However, the response only minimally reports the changes: it does not explain that the northern shops are replaced, that the central street becomes pedestrian-only, or that a dual carriageway loops around the centre. The overview is also unclear, and the claim that the school and housing are “on one side” does not distinguish what remains outside the planned loop from what changes within it. To make the summary more complete, select the major transformations and compare the present and planned layouts accurately, rather than mainly listing map labels.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is some basic sequencing: you introduce the maps, describe the current layout, and then refer to the proposed development. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the same information is repeated in phrases such as “the first map shows” and “Firstlly, I decribe a first map.” The response also moves between descriptions without clearly grouping the current features and the planned changes. Connectors such as “To begin” provide limited help when the ideas that follow are repetitive or unclear. Organise the response into a brief overview and separate paragraphs for the existing and planned layouts, using clear comparisons such as “whereas” or “in contrast” to show how the town centre changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “main road,” “shops,” “housing area,” “Bus station,” and “Shopping centre,” so the reader can recognise the general subject. However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or awkward, such as “Dual carriageway assign to the town,” “areas are located into the centre,” and “maps are describe.” Spelling errors including “Firstlly,” “decribe,” “Nourth,” and “weast” also reduce clarity. Aim for precise verbs and collocations used to describe maps, such as “is replaced by,” “is situated within,” and “remains outside.” Check spelling and avoid repeating “area” when a more specific label is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, but grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make the relationships between features unclear. For example, “the second map describe” has incorrect subject–verb agreement, while “a development plans” and “In this map's are describe” show problems with articles, number, and sentence construction. The sentence beginning “In this map Dual carriageway assign” also lacks a correctly formed verb phrase. Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after full stops and quotation marks around ordinary sentences. Practise accurate simple map-description sentences first, then combine them with clauses using “while” or “whereas”; check agreement, articles, and verb forms in each sentence.

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