Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-12

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)

Islip is a small town having major facilities for everyone living nearby. Several shops are constructed on the side of the road. However, there are also many shops on the opposite direction and along the road. The main road is developed perfectly between these different shops. The main road also take us towards the park on the east of the road. While, there is also a small society near the parks which will allow the children to play and the elders to walk. Moreover, a school is made for children to learn and grow with a healthy mind in the south. The school make it perfect and shows a sign of any complete society. There is nothing for the parents to fear about for the children. Everthing is established in the society perfectly. But, if we talk about the shops across the road in the north, there is nothing except the countryside.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response shows some awareness of the existing town, mentioning the main road, shops, park, school and countryside. However, it does not summarise the maps’ central purpose: comparing the town now with its planned development. The planned bus station, shopping centre, car park, pedestrian-only street, dual carriageway and new housing are all omitted, and there is no overview of the major changes. Some details are also unsupported or inaccurate: the “small society” and claims about children playing and elders walking are not shown, while the park is not described as being east of the road in the way stated. To improve, report the key changes and retained features objectively, rather than adding opinions about the town’s quality or residents’ needs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic sequence of observations, and linking words such as “However,” “Moreover” and “But” show an attempt to connect ideas. Nevertheless, the response has no clear overview or paragraph structure, and it moves between locations and personal commentary without a consistent organising principle. For example, the discussion shifts from shops and the road to the park, then the school, and finally back to the northern shops. Some links are awkward or unclear, including “While, there is also…” and “But, if we talk about…”. Group the information into an overview and organised comparisons of the northern and southern areas, using clear location references and fewer, more purposeful transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses a basic range of relevant place vocabulary, including “main road,” “shops,” “park,” “school” and “countryside,” so the general setting is understandable. However, vocabulary is often imprecise or conversational for a map report. Phrases such as “developed perfectly,” “small society” and “shows a sign of any complete society” do not describe map features accurately, while “constructed” and “made” are not the most natural choices for describing existing facilities. There is also a spelling error in “Everthing.” Use precise planning terms and neutral verbs, such as “is located,” “is replaced by,” “remains” and “is converted into,” to describe changes without evaluation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some sentence variety, including a relative clause in “a small society near the parks which will allow…” and a contrast introduced by “However.” Basic meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in verb forms and agreement occur repeatedly. For example, “The main road also take us” should use a singular verb, and “The school make it perfect” has the same agreement problem. The opening “Islip is a small town having…” is also an awkward construction, and “While, there is…” is not correctly punctuated or formed as a sentence opening. Aim for accurate present-tense descriptions and straightforward comparative structures before attempting longer sentences.

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