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 graph shows plans for developments of the centre of small town called Islip to demonstrate improvements proposed.

Intial plan implements a dual carriageway road system alongside increasing housing projects for increased population.It also suggests a more efficient structural organisation of shops,shopping centre,car park,bus station and a park.

The most vigilant part of the planned development includes a dual carriageway which may help reduce traffic congestion allowing a more efficient pathaway to ease travelling.Moreover, it has a pedestrians only road to ensure safety of consumers.Secondly. the new plan also kept the park in a position which is easily accessible from the dual carriageway encouraging conviniency.

Additionally, the bus station has been put in such a position which drops users right at the pedestrian only walkaway closer to shopping centre and shops.Furthermore,the car park has been designed right beside the shopping centre so consumers dont have to worry about parking spaces.Lastly, the planned development shows increase housing to accomodate rising population which is also close to the carriageway and school to ensure comfort.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major planned changes, including the dual carriageway, pedestrian-only street, bus station, shopping centre, car park and additional housing. This gives the response relevant coverage of the development. However, the task asks for a comparison of the town centre now and in the plan, and the current layout is barely described: for example, you do not explain that shops currently line both sides of the main road or that the park and school are already present. Some details are also inaccurate or unsupported. The park is reduced in size and remains inside the loop, rather than being newly positioned for easy access from the carriageway; the school is outside the loop, not close to the new housing as stated. A clearer overview of what is retained, replaced and added would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has an overall sequence, moving from a brief introduction to planned features and then discussing transport, shopping and housing. Paragraph breaks help separate these points, and linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “Additionally” and “Furthermore” show an effort to connect ideas. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, with “Secondly” and “Lastly” introducing points without a clear comparison between the present and future maps. The opening paragraph also groups several facilities together without explaining their locations or relationships. Some references, such as “it” in “it has a pedestrians only road,” are not fully clear. Organise the body around the main changes—road layout, northern facilities, and southern areas—and use comparisons to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “dual carriageway,” “pedestrians only,” “shopping centre” and “car park,” which helps communicate the planned features. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “structural organisation.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a map summary: “graph” should be “maps,” “pathaway” is not appropriate, and “most vigilant part” does not convey the main feature. “Consumers” and “comfort” introduce speculative purposes rather than describing the layout. Spelling errors such as “Intial,” “conviniency” and “accomodate” also reduce accuracy. Prefer precise, neutral terms for locations and changes, and avoid claims about intended benefits unless the maps explicitly show them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “which” and “so,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships unclear. The opening has missing articles and an awkward construction: “centre of small town called Islip” needs “the centre of a small town called Islip.” In “Intial plan implements,” the tense and article are not controlled; a map description would more naturally use “The plan includes.” There are also sentence-boundary and punctuation problems, such as “Secondly. the new plan,” and missing spaces after full stops. Review articles, verb forms, and punctuation, and build accurate comparison sentences such as “The existing main road will become pedestrian-only.”

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