Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-03

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.

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Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagram shows a town square and its surrounding area in 2014 and the plans for development of the area to be completed by 2020.

Initially , in 2014 it has history museum and library in the west side of the diagram but it was developed as local artists gallery in 2020. Fish market was converted to supermarket . Town hall present in the same place both the time . like supermarket and town hall face each other on the top of the diagram.

Then , in the center part only fountain and bandstand were in 2014 but it expanded to plant beds, children's playground and covered seating area were build. Also the fountain is same as previous. On the east side the administrative buildings was present in 2014 but it replaced with a shops.

Finally, in the south side only one large fish restaurant and small bar was occupied in 2014. but in 2020 the name will changed like it represented as bar and restaurant. Where the bar took two areas and restaurant covered as four areas.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the town square development, such as the conversion of the fish market and the expansion of the central area. However, the response lacks a clear overview, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher. You have listed changes chronologically but failed to synthesize the information into a coherent summary of the overall trends (e.g., the shift from administrative/commercial use to more leisure-oriented facilities). Additionally, some descriptions are slightly inaccurate, such as stating the town hall is in the same place when the map shows it remains, but the surrounding layout changes significantly. To improve, ensure you include a clear introductory overview of the main changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Initially', 'Then', 'Finally'). Some transitions are awkward, such as 'like supermarket and town hall face each other', which does not effectively link ideas. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track specific locations. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the spatial changes in the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic verbs like 'was present', 'was converted', and 'was occupied'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'the name will changed' and 'covered as four areas'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to maps and urban development, such as 'transformed', 'replaced by', 'extended', or 'redeveloped'. Focus on using more sophisticated descriptive language to convey the changes in the town square layout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'administrative buildings was present'), incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'the name will changed'), and missing articles (e.g., 'in west side'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past and future states. Reviewing the use of articles and prepositions in spatial descriptions will also help improve your accuracy.

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