Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-17

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 reveal the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.

Overall, it is clear that the area underwent significant changes over the period. Several new facilities will added, while some new features will removed or replaced.

Now, shops are on the both side of the main road. Shops that are on the north side of the main road is on the countryside. There is a school on the southwest side on the small road with a bend. There is also a small road on the southeast side and there is a park at the end of this road. Most of the housing is concentrated in the centre and between park and school.

In future, Map will cover more area of the countryside. Shops on the countryside will replaced with bus station, shopping centre, car parking and new housing. Shops on the other side will remain same and old housing will also remain same. Main road will replaced with dual carriageway. While, school and park will reamin at same position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the maps’ purpose and provide an overview of substantial change, then describe both the current layout and the proposed development. Relevant details include the shops beside the main road, the school and park, and the planned bus station and shopping centre. However, some key changes are unclear or inaccurate: the northern shops are replaced by a bus station, shopping centre and car park, while new housing is also added; the southern shops remain. The school stays in place, but the park is reduced rather than unchanged. The dual carriageway forms a loop around the centre, not simply a replacement for the main road. A more precise overview and fuller comparison of these changes would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a clear basic structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph on the present map and one on the plan. This makes the information easy to follow at a general level. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes weakened by repeated sentence openings such as “There is” and “Shops,” and the final paragraph combines several changes without clearly distinguishing what remains from what is replaced. The connector “While” also begins a fragment rather than linking two complete ideas. Grouping the planned changes by location—for example, north and south of the pedestrian street—and using clearer contrasts such as “whereas” would make the comparisons more cohesive and precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of map-related vocabulary, including “concentrated,” “countryside,” “facilities,” and “remain,” and the main locations are generally understandable. Some choices are imprecise or unnatural, however: “car parking” is less suitable here than “car park,” and “shops on the countryside” does not clearly describe the shops north of the road. “The area underwent significant changes over the period” also suggests completed change, although the map shows a proposed plan. There is some spelling inaccuracy, notably “reamin.” Aim for precise terms for map features and use consistent language for planned development, such as “is proposed to be replaced” or “will be converted into.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and more complex forms, including “while” and “between,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “will added” and “will replaced” need passive forms (“will be added/replaced”); “shops … is” should be “shops … are”; and “on the both side” has an incorrect article and number. “While, school and park will reamin at same position” is not a complete, well-formed sentence. Practise accurate passive constructions for planned changes, check singular and plural subjects, and include articles where needed. Greater control of these patterns would make your comparisons clearer.

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