Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-20

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 4.5)

Islipt town centerv town is that show countryside at the top of structure in north side at top of grah and after that there was a at the bottom of countryside there was shops at the north side of road and south side of country side after shp there was a main road at the bottom of shops , at south side after road at south side of road also shops means both side of road there was shops and also at the south side of shops and road there was a housing and at the right side there was a park and also there was a school at left south side and anothr housing bottom south side.

Islipt planne ddevelopment there was a a bus station , and there was also a shopping center , there was car park and also a new housing at top of east side and pedestrians only also, and a dual carriagewat at left south side there was 2 additinal houing area .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify several relevant features, including the shops on both sides of the main road, the park and school, and planned facilities such as a bus station, shopping centre and car park. However, the response gives only a minimal account of the maps and does not provide a clear overview of the main changes. Some locations are misreported or unclear: the planned development has new housing in more than one area, while “2 additional housing area” does not explain their positions; the dual carriageway is a loop around the centre, not simply at the “left south side.” To improve, summarise the major transformation first, then accurately compare what is retained, replaced, added or moved.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to separate the present map from the planned development, and the repeated use of “and” helps connect some details. However, the first section is one long, difficult-to-follow sentence, with several repeated location phrases such as “at the south side” and “at the bottom.” The transition to the plan is abrupt, and the reader cannot easily distinguish the different areas or follow a clear sequence. Use separate paragraphs for the current layout and proposed changes, and organise each from north to south or west to east. Shorter sentences and clear links such as “By contrast” and “In addition” would make the description easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “main road,” “housing,” “park,” “school,” “bus station” and “pedestrians only,” so the reader can recognise several features. However, the range is basic and repetitive, and frequent spelling errors—such as “Islipt,” “shp,” “planne ddevelopment” and “carriagewat”—make the description harder to understand. Some phrases are also imprecise, for example “at the top of east side” and “2 additinal houing area.” Build a more accurate set of location and change terms, such as “to the north of,” “on the eastern side,” “is replaced by,” and “is retained,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe locations and connect ideas, but sentence structures are very limited and errors are frequent enough to obscure relationships between features. For example, “there was a at the bottom of countryside there was shops” has faulty article use and sentence construction, while “at south side after road at south side of road also shops” lacks a clear grammatical structure. The planned-development section also relies on fragments and repeated “there was,” rather than controlled comparisons. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, accurate articles and prepositions, and past or present forms used consistently. For example: “Shops currently line both sides of the main road.”

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