Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-13

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 below illustrate the present features and the plans for the development of the centre of a small town called Islip.

Overall, the major changes can be observed in north countryside than the south side. Right now, there are two shop buildings and one main road goes in between. This area will look different after the development.

According to the planned development, one shop building from the very north side will be replaced and there will be constructions of bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing. The main road will be replaced by a road for pedestrians only. However, there will be no change in another shop building.

In south side, housing, park and school are constructed now. Following the planned feature, there will be a new housing in south side, park space will be smaller than now. Finally, dual carriageway will be developed in the centre of the Islip town.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad contrast between the current town centre and the proposed redevelopment, including the pedestrian-only street, new facilities and smaller park. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: the northern shops are replaced by a bus station, shopping centre and car park, while new housing is also added northeast of the car park; the response does not clearly locate these changes. The dual carriageway is described as being “in the centre,” although it forms a loop around the town centre, and the school remains outside it. The overview is also imprecise in saying changes are greater in the north. The response is 146 words, below the 150-word minimum. Develop the overview and report the locations and retained features more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for the northern and southern areas. This gives the reader a basic route through the comparison. However, progression is limited because the overview repeats details that are then revisited, and the north–south division does not fully explain how the planned layout relates to the existing one. Some links are mechanical or unclear, such as “According to the planned development” and “Following the planned feature.” The final sentence introduces the dual carriageway without connecting it to the earlier description. Grouping changes by what is replaced, retained and added, and using clearer references such as “the northern row of shops,” would make the account more cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “shopping centre,” “car park,” “pedestrians only” and “dual carriageway,” so the main subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “two shop buildings,” “constructions of bus station” and “park space will be smaller.” “In north countryside” does not clearly describe the northern part of the town, while “planned feature” is an awkward way to refer to the proposed layout. These choices sometimes make the spatial information harder to follow. Use precise terms such as “rows of shops,” “facilities will be built,” and “the park will be reduced in size,” and vary verbs for changes, for example “replace,” “retain” and “relocate.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple statements and more complex forms, including “one shop building … will be replaced” and “However, there will be no change…”. The future tense is generally appropriate for the proposed plan, and the main message remains understandable. However, errors in articles, prepositions and sentence construction recur: “in north countryside than the south side” lacks a clear grammatical comparison, “In south side” needs an article, and “there will be a new housing” uses an uncountable noun with an inappropriate article. “Housing, park and school are constructed now” also uses an unsuitable passive form for describing what exists. Practise accurate location phrases and distinguish present descriptions (“is located”) from future changes (“will be built”).

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