Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows a town square and surrounding area in 2014 and the plans for development of the area to be completed by 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The map illustrates a town sqaure in 2014 and the area around it and plans for its development till 2020.

Overall,in 2020 the main changes in the diagram is plant beds, children playground and covered seating was installed around the fountain. As well as bars, restaurants and shops can be seen in the developed map.

The history museum and library on the left was replaced with artists gallery whereas the fish market was replaced with a supermarket. Whereas plant beds, covered seating and children's playground is built around the fountain in the new map.

On the bottom of the map fish restaurant and a bar was demolished and instead of that many restaurants and bars can be spotted in 2020. However, the administrative building from the right was removed and many shops can be seen there in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several major changes, including the fish market becoming a supermarket, the history museum becoming an artists’ gallery, and the administrative buildings being replaced by shops. You also give an overview of new recreational features around the fountain. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the library is not replaced, and the fountain itself remains rather than being part of the new development. The overview also does not clearly summarise the broader contrast between the square’s original buildings and its planned commercial and leisure uses. The response is 138 words, below the required 150, so the report is under-length and some features are left undeveloped. Add accurate details, such as the town hall remaining and the bandstand’s site becoming a playground.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing changes to the western, southern and eastern areas. This gives the reader a basic route through the comparison. However, progression is limited because the same features are repeated: plant beds, seating and the playground appear in both the overview and the next paragraph, while the repeated use of “Whereas” and “However” does not always show a clear contrast. Some references are also imprecise, such as “the left” and “the bottom of the map.” Group the information by location or by what remains and what changes, and use linking phrases only where they clarify the relationship between details.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “replaced,” “demolished,” “around the fountain,” and “on the right,” so the main changes are generally understandable. There is some repetition of “replaced,” “can be seen,” and “map,” and a few choices are imprecise: “installed” is less suitable for fixed landscape features, while “spotted” is informal for an academic report. The spelling error “sqaure” is noticeable, and “artists gallery” needs a possessive form. Aim for more precise terms such as “converted into,” “located,” and “occupies,” while varying repeated wording. This would make the description more natural and appropriately formal without changing its meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “the history museum and library on the left was replaced…” and contrastive clauses beginning with “Whereas” and “However.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in agreement and sentence construction are frequent enough to affect accuracy. For example, “the main changes … is” should use a plural verb, and “plant beds, covered seating and children’s playground is built” has agreement and article problems. “Fish restaurant and a bar was demolished” also needs a plural subject and verb. Check subject–verb agreement, articles, and whether each contrastive clause forms a complete sentence. More accurate control of these patterns would strengthen the report.

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