Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-25

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 layout of map illustrates the comparison of town right now and plans for its development. As of now the town is simple and less developed. There are plans that are in queue for execution for its development.

Right now as seen from layout on the top north side there is a countryside below which there is a section for shops between which there is a main road. There below shops there is space for housing. On bottom side of south there is school and right side of east there is a park.

Now on the other side the plan for devlopment shows much improvement to the town. There will be dual carriageway around the town for traffic and there will be addition of new housing section on right east side. There will be bus station, shopping centre and cark park present adajecent to each other on top left north side. The main road present on previous map will be replaced by pedestrians only road. Below that there will be shops. Park will be present between dual carriageway on bottom right east side. School will present on other side of dual carriagway on left bottom south side of the town

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad contrast between the existing town and its planned redevelopment, and include several key features: the dual carriageway, pedestrian-only street, transport and shopping facilities, housing, park and school. However, the overview is not clearly stated, and some locations are inaccurate or incomplete. For example, the bus station, shopping centre and car park are north of the pedestrian street, but describing them as all on the “top left” misplaces the car park, which is farther east. The planned new housing is also in more than one area, while the response mentions only the eastern area. Clarify the main changes as a whole and compare what remains, what is replaced and what is added to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic chronological structure, moving from the current map to the proposed plan, and this helps the reader distinguish the two stages. However, progression within each description is not always clear: phrases such as “on bottom side of south” and “on other side” make locations and relationships difficult to follow. The repeated use of “there will be” also makes the planned-development paragraph feel list-like rather than organised around related changes. Group features by area—for example, the northern facilities, the pedestrian street and southern changes—and use clear references such as “to the north of” or “south of” to connect them. A concise overview paragraph would also give the report a clearer overall structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “dual carriageway,” “pedestrians only,” “housing” and “adjacent,” so the reader can recognise many of the features. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “plans that are in queue for execution,” “space for housing” and “much improvement to the town.” There are also spelling errors in “devlopment,” “cark park,” “adajecent” and “carriagway,” which reduce accuracy. Choose concise, conventional language for describing maps, and use precise location phrases rather than relying on general terms such as “right side” and “bottom side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most sentences communicate a basic idea, but the response relies heavily on simple structures and repeated “there is/there will be” patterns. Errors in sentence construction and verb forms occur throughout, as in “The layout of map illustrates” and “School will present,” where articles or a suitable verb form are missing. The opening sentence also has an unclear structure: “The layout of map illustrates the comparison of town right now and plans for its development.” Some location phrases are awkwardly formed, including “on bottom side of south.” Practise accurate article use and complete verb phrases, then combine related map details using controlled clauses such as “while” or “whereas.”

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