Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-21

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 6.5)

The two maps compare the structural developments that take place in Islip town centre at the current time with the future.

On the whole, it is evident that the centre is projected to undergo significant urban transformation in the coming time, shifting from a largely rural settlement to a commercial and residential hub. Additionally, the southern section of both the maps is noticably remained unchanged.

In the present, the area is characterized by the main road constructed from west to east and various shops are attached to the top and bottom of this road. It is also extended towards the southern portion which shows a school exactly below the left-wing road and a park where the right-side road ends, whereas the central area is entirely occupied by houses.

By the future, the whole infrastructure is aimed to be surrounded by dual carriageway except the previous housing and school building staying on their older place. The houses are going to be expanded in both the right-side northward and southward directions. The main road is expected to be replaced by pedestrains whereas the top shops area is intended to be converted into a bus station, a shopping centre and a car park.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main contrast between the existing town centre and its planned redevelopment, and your overview correctly highlights major urban change and the pedestrianised central street. You also report several key features, including the shops beside the current main road, the planned dual carriageway, and the bus station, shopping centre and car park. This covers the task well, with some comparison and an overall picture. However, some details are inaccurate or underdeveloped: the school and housing are outside the planned loop, rather than being exceptions to a loop that surrounds them, and the southern area does not remain unchanged because the park is reduced and new housing is added. Mentioning the retained southern shops and the new housing would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into a clear introduction, overview, description of the present map and description of the plan. This gives the reader a logical progression from the general changes to specific locations. Linking expressions such as “On the whole,” “In the present” and “By the future” help signal these stages, and the contrast between the maps is generally easy to follow. Some references are less precise, however: “the previous housing and school building staying on their older place” does not clearly explain their position relative to the carriageway, while “the houses” could refer to more than one housing area. Use clearer location-based links, such as “south of the loop” or “to the northeast of the car park,” and connect the planned features in a more systematic west-to-east order.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change and location, including “urban transformation,” “commercial and residential hub,” “surrounded by” and “converted into.” These choices help convey the broad redevelopment plan, and the meaning is generally clear. However, some less common expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “structural developments that take place,” “noticably remained unchanged,” and “the main road is expected to be replaced by pedestrains.” There is also a spelling error in “pedestrains,” and “left-wing road” is not an appropriate map description. Aim for precise, conventional map language—such as “redeveloped,” “pedestrianised,” “to the west,” and “is planned to become”—and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “whereas” and “which,” and most of the intended comparisons can be understood. Some grammatical errors remain, but they rarely prevent communication. For example, “the southern section of both the maps is noticably remained unchanged” combines an incorrect passive form with an awkward subject construction; “the area is characterized by the main road constructed” also needs a clearer verb pattern. In “the whole infrastructure is aimed to be surrounded,” the structure does not express the intended plan accurately. Practise forming passive descriptions of planned changes, such as “is planned to be surrounded,” and check agreement, articles and verb forms when describing features that remain or change.

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