Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-26

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

Overall, Islip town centre is very small area and there is some shops and houses now. There is a park where children play games and intertainment. But when the town will be developed according the plan so there will have built new shops and expand area of housing. The ring road will be built surround the town.

At present, there are some shops around main road and leave area behind the shops for tthe housing. There is a park at the east side and a road connected with the main road, a school is located at the south side.

In future, Islip town centre will be developed according the future plan. There will add new things and the town will be up graded. There will be built bus station for individuals, will have introduced a big shopping centre that will be everything available there and car parking area along the shopping centre. The ring road will be built surrounding the town. Moreover, park area will be reduced and new housing scheme introduced.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the two maps as showing Islip now and after development, and you report several relevant changes: a ring road, a bus station, shopping centre, car park, reduced park and new housing. The overview also recognises that the town will be developed, but it is vague and includes an unsupported detail that the park is where children “play games.” Important spatial changes are not clearly reported: the central road becomes pedestrian-only, the northern shops are replaced by facilities, and the school remains outside the new loop. Some details, such as the present shops and housing, are mentioned but not compared precisely with the plan. To strengthen the response, summarise the main transformations accurately and explain where the new facilities are located.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about the present layout and one about the planned development. This gives the reader a basic progression from current conditions to future changes. However, connections between ideas are sometimes mechanical or unclear. For example, “But when the town will be developed according the plan” is an awkward transition, and the final paragraph repeats the ring-road point already made in the overview. The sequence of future features also does not consistently explain their locations or relationships. Use clearer comparisons such as “whereas” and “in contrast,” and group related changes together—for example, road and pedestrian arrangements, then commercial facilities and housing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “bus station,” “shopping centre,” “car parking area,” “ring road” and “housing scheme,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a map. Phrases such as “new things,” “up graded,” “individuals” and “everything available there” are vague or conversational, while “intertainment” is misspelled. “Park area will be reduced” communicates the idea, but “the park will be reduced in size” is more natural. Aim for precise map language, including terms for location and change, and check spelling and collocations. This would make the description clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can usually understand the intended meaning. However, some errors in sentence structure, verb forms, articles and agreement remain. For example, “there is some shops” should use a plural verb, while “there will have built new shops” does not form the future passive correctly. The clause “when the town will be developed according the plan” also has an incorrect tense pattern and is missing a preposition. In “There will add new things,” the sentence lacks a clear subject and correct verb construction. Practise accurate future forms such as “will be built” and “will be added,” and check articles and singular/plural agreement when editing.

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