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)

This map illustrate the layout of Islip town center now and also shows the development plan of Islip town center in future.

Now,In Islip town center there are only few things but in future they are planning for more shops and bus station and car parking etc.

In first map, it shows the main road starts from the west and there are shops on both side of main road,there are countryside area in north,there are housing society behind the shops and school in west south and park in east south.

In second map, They are planning for future.They planned only pedestrian for people and in north side of pedestrian there are bus station,shopping center,car parking and new housing society and in the south side there are shops and behind the shops there are some other houses.There are park in east south side. Moreever,there are dual carriageway round the centeral point.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two maps as showing Islip now and its planned future, and include several relevant changes, such as the pedestrian-only street, bus station, shopping centre, car park and dual carriageway. However, the comparison is only partly developed: the overview that there will be “more shops” is misleading, since the northern shops are replaced by other facilities while the southern row remains. Some locations are also unclear or inaccurate: the school is south of the town centre, not “in west south,” and the plan adds new housing in the northeast and south-central area, which you do not clearly distinguish. A more accurate overview of the main transformations, followed by precise comparisons of what is retained, replaced and added, would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall sequence: it introduces the maps, describes the present layout, and then turns to the proposed plan. This helps the reader follow the broad topic. However, the progression within the paragraphs is mostly a list of features joined by repeated “and” and “there are,” so relationships between changes are not always clear. The opening claim about future development is not then organised into a clear overview, and the final sentence about the dual carriageway feels added on rather than integrated with the other planned changes. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs for an overview and the key details, and connect features through comparisons such as what is replaced, retained or relocated.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “main road,” “pedestrian,” “bus station,” “shopping center” and “dual carriageway,” so the reader can identify many of the features. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “only few things,” “housing society,” and “behind the shops.” Repetition of “there are” also limits variety. Some word forms and spellings, including “centeral,” reduce the polish of the description. Aim for precise location and change vocabulary, for example “to the north of,” “is replaced by,” and “remains,” and use standard forms such as “town centre” consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most of the response uses simple present or past forms, with limited control of more varied sentence structures. Errors occur frequently in basic sentence construction: “This map illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “there are countryside area” and “There are park” have problems with articles and singular/plural agreement. The sentence beginning “In first map, it shows” is also awkwardly constructed, and several long lists are joined with commas rather than being clearly separated, making them harder to read. There is an attempt to describe future plans with “They planned,” but the tense is inconsistent with the intended future meaning. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine them using controlled clauses and correct punctuation.

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