Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-04

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 ILLUSTRATES INFORMATION ABOUT A DOWNTOWN OF THE SMALL ISLIP IN THE PRESENT TIME AND THE PLANS FOR ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

FIRST OF ALL, IN THE INSTANT TIME THE CENTER OF THIS TOWN HAS JUST ON MAIN ROAD THAT GOES THROUGH IT FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST . WHILE IN THE BOTH SIDE OF THE ROAD THE SHOPS LOCATED THERE, ABOVE THEM IS THE COUNTRYSIDE AND UNDER THEM IS THE HOUSING . FURTHERMORE , THE SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN ROAD TAKES YOU FROM THE MAIN ONE TO IT FROM THE WEST,WHILE THE PARK HAS THE SAME FROM THE EAST .

HOWEVER, IN THE PLANS OF DEVELOPING THERE IS A HUGE CHANGES AND NEW MODREN FEATURES, LIKE THE SHOOPING CENTER ,PARKING AND THE BUS STATION ABOVE THE PEDESTRIANS WAY WHICH WAS THE MAIN ROAD . MOREOVER THEY PLANNED FOR NEW HOUSING ON THE BOTH SIDE OF THE SHOPS , AND LET THE PARK AND THE SCHOOL IN THERE PLACES. WHILE THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS PLANNING TO MAKE A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY AROUND ALL THE DOWNTOWN OF ISLIP.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad contrast between the current town centre and the proposed redevelopment, including the pedestrianised central road, new shopping and transport facilities, and the dual carriageway. However, the account is only partly complete and some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, “new housing on the both side of the shops” does not reflect the plan: new housing is shown northeast of the car park and south of the shops, while the existing southern shops remain. Saying the park and school are “in there places” also misses that the park becomes smaller and the school remains outside the carriageway loop. Add a clear overview and describe the main changes to the northern and southern areas more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: it describes the present layout first and then turns to the proposed plan, using separate paragraphs and signals such as “First of all,” “Furthermore,” and “However.” This gives the reader a basic overall structure. However, some linking is mechanical or confusing: “While” begins a fragment, and the relationship between the shops, housing, school and park is not always clearly expressed. The second paragraph also combines several changes in one long sentence, making the locations difficult to follow. Organise the comparison by area—for example, the north side of the road, the south side, and the outer road—and use clear references such as “to the north” and “in contrast” to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “main road,” “pedestrians,” “bus station,” and “dual carriageway,” so the reader can identify several key features. There is also an attempt to vary description with phrases such as “huge changes” and “biggest change.” However, word choice and spelling are often inaccurate or imprecise, including “instant time,” “downtown,” “shooping center,” “parking,” and “modren.” “Parking” is less precise than the map’s “car park,” and “downtown” is not the most suitable term for this town-centre map. Use accurate labels from the plan and practise common collocations such as “the town centre is planned to be redeveloped” and “shops are located on either side of the road.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas using longer structures, for example, “While in the both side of the road the shops located there,” and “the school has its own road takes you…” These attempts show some ambition, but many sentences contain errors in clause structure, verb forms, articles and agreement, which sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For instance, “The maps illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the shops located there” lacks a finite verb. The sentence beginning “While the biggest change…” is also incomplete. Build more reliable sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Shops are located on both sides of the road.” Check articles and plurals, and use full sentences rather than starting independent points with “While.”

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