Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-16

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 given maps depicts the center of a small town known as Islip as it is now and plans for its future development.

Overall, it clearly seen that there will be many major structural reorganisation such as expansion of the main road, construction of new infrastructure and demolishing old buildings.

Right now, the Islip town center is not very populated area and developed. There is a main road which flows from west to east in the northern region. There are shops situated on both sides of the road near its mid point. There is a countryside to the north and housing in south of the shops. A park to the southeast and a school to the southwest.

In vision of its development, the main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway. There will be some new constructs such as bus station, shopping center and car park. Housing area will be same with addition of New Housing area near the park whose size will be reduced. School would remain in the same place with some minor changes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast between the existing town centre and the proposed redevelopment, and your overview notes new infrastructure and changes to the road system. You also report several relevant features, including the bus station, shopping centre, car park, housing, park and school. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: the main road is not replaced by a dual carriageway; the central street becomes pedestrian-only, while a dual-carriageway loop is added around the centre. The southern shops remain, and the new housing is not simply near the park. The overview also says old buildings will be demolished, which is too broad because some shops and housing remain. More precise comparisons of what is retained, replaced and added would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, a description of the current map and a paragraph on the plan. This makes the comparison easy to follow, and phrases such as “Right now” and “In vision of its development” signal the shift between time periods. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes abrupt. The current-map paragraph lists locations in short statements, while the final paragraph groups several changes together without clearly distinguishing the northern and southern parts of the centre. Some linking is also mechanical or unclear, particularly “Housing area will be same with addition of…”. Organising the planned changes by location and using clearer references to the streets and areas would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of map vocabulary, including “construction,” “infrastructure,” “dual carriageway,” “bus station” and “reduced” park size, so the main ideas are generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for this task. “The main road which flows” is not a natural collocation for a road, and “new constructs” is not the appropriate noun for facilities. “Not very populated area and developed” is also unclear, while “structural reorganisation” is broad and does not specify the changes. Aim for precise terms such as “runs,” “facilities,” “redevelopment” and “less densely developed.” Check spelling conventions consistently, for example “centre” rather than switching to “center.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple sentences and more developed structures, including “There is a main road which…” and “There will be some new…,” and the intended meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence formation and grammatical control are noticeable. The opening should be “The given maps depict,” not “maps depicts”; the overview needs a subject and verb (“it is clearly seen” or, more naturally, “the maps clearly show”). “There is a countryside” and “A park to the southeast and a school to the southwest” are incomplete or incorrectly formed clauses. Articles and agreement also need attention in “not very populated area” and “Housing area will be same.” Practise complete sentences and accurate article use while retaining some complex structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.