Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-15

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)

Islip town centre's planned map shows the more connectivity, as compared before. In North, there are all the facilities for residents including bus station, shopping centre, car parking, and also road towards new housing scheme. The former map shows a town which is not much inclusive of such daily necessities, and less connectivity. In south, now there is also a dual carriageway. People can easily travel by the single main road and go anywhere they want, whether it is park or their children school. The newly planned map demonstrate the addition of pedestrian only pathway, which is also a great facility. The main road can connect East to the west, and north to the south. By keeping the shops in central area, it has made easier for the people living in all the housing schemes to access them. The former map did not picture the town as it should be, and the planned map for development is quite inclusive and comprehensive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major planned changes, including the bus station, shopping centre, car park, new housing and pedestrian-only route, and you compare the planned layout with the existing town. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the dual carriageway is a loop around the centre, not simply “in south,” and the existing map already has a main road and side roads, so the claim that the planned map lets people travel “anywhere they want” is not a precise map comparison. The overview is also evaluative (“inclusive and comprehensive”) rather than a clear summary of the physical transformation. To strengthen the response, describe the loop, the retained southern shops, the smaller park and the school remaining outside the loop, while keeping claims grounded in the maps.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, moving from northern facilities to southern changes and then making a general comparison. However, it is presented as one continuous paragraph, and the progression between points is not always clear. For example, “In south, now there is also a dual carriageway” is followed by a statement about the existing main road, then by the pedestrian route, without clearly distinguishing the current map from the plan. Repeated references to “the former map” and “the planned map” do not consistently clarify which feature belongs to which layout. Organise the response into an introduction/overview and a paragraph comparing key changes, and use precise linking and referencing so each sentence follows logically from the previous one.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “dual carriageway,” “pedestrian only pathway,” “housing schemes” and “facilities,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, several choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing maps: “shows the more connectivity,” “car parking,” and “the town as it should be” do not express the intended information clearly. “Daily necessities” and “inclusive and comprehensive” are broad evaluations rather than precise descriptions of land use. Aim for accurate map-reporting collocations such as “improves access,” “car park,” “is replaced by,” and “is retained.” More specific vocabulary for locations and changes would make the account clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including the clause beginning “By keeping the shops in central area…” and the comparison introduced by “as compared before.” Some grammatical errors remain, although the overall meaning can usually be followed. Examples include “shows the more connectivity,” “In North,” “the planned map demonstrate,” and “it has made easier,” which involve article, agreement or sentence-pattern problems. The sentence “People can easily travel by the single main road and go anywhere they want” also combines ideas in a way that is difficult to interpret precisely. Review articles and subject–verb agreement, and build sentences around clear subjects and verbs. For instance, state directly that the plan introduces a pedestrian-only street and a loop road.

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