Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-19

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 5.0)

The given maps illustrate the information about layout of small town know as Islips how it looks now and after development.

Overall, there are several changes take place. The main change is shops will replaced into new shops and new car park will be added.

To start with, nowadays, country side area has been located on the north side. The

main road has been started from on the west to east side and attached with shops on both side of the road. Two housing areas has been situated in the centre of the map and second on the south side. Park has been situated in the right side and school is located in the left side.

Moving further, after development, there are multiple changes taken place. It is predicted that all the shops will removed and new shops would be added like, bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing area. The main road will converted into circular. School and housing will be on the same place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the two maps as showing Islip before and after development, and you mention several relevant features, including the shops, road, park, school and proposed bus station, shopping centre and car park. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the shops are not simply replaced by “new shops”; the northern shops become new facilities, while the southern row remains. The planned dual carriageway is described as the main road becoming “circular,” but it is a loop around the centre, and the central street becomes pedestrian-only. Some current locations are also misreported, such as saying there are two housing areas in the centre. To improve, give a clear overview of the major changes and compare the key features more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about the current map and one about the plan. Sequencing phrases such as “To start with” and “Moving further” help signal the shift between maps. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited, and some details are grouped imprecisely, making the description harder to follow. For example, the overview says shops will be replaced and a car park added, but does not distinguish the northern and southern rows. The final paragraph also moves quickly from new facilities to the road and school without explaining their locations. Use clearer links such as “By contrast” and “while,” and organise each map’s features by area.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “north side,” “both side of the road,” “housing areas,” and “after development,” so the reader can identify the general subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which reduces precision. “New shops” does not accurately describe the bus station, shopping centre and car park, while “main road will converted into circular” is an unclear description of the planned layout. There are also spelling and word-form issues, such as “Islips” and “country side.” Aim for precise terms for map features and changes, and use collocations such as “is located to the north” and “will be replaced by.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response mainly uses simple statements and attempts a few longer structures, but grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between features unclear. Examples include “town know as Islips,” “there are several changes take place,” and “the main road will converted,” where verb forms or auxiliaries are missing or incorrect. Subject–verb agreement is also problematic in “Two housing areas has been situated,” and articles and prepositions are often omitted or misused, as in “on the right side.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation need attention too, including the isolated line break after “The.” Practise accurate present-tense descriptions and future passive forms, for example, “The road will be converted into a pedestrian street.”

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