Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-07

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 given map chart depicts information about a town square and surrounding area in 2014 and the plans for development of the area to the completed by 2020.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that modification is done all the directions. All the modifications are important.

Moving towards the detail, in north direction, there was no construction done. Bandstand was converted into shops. In the south direction, there was fish restaurant and bar which was increased in year 2020. In south-west direction there was a library which was demolished. In the middle, children's playground, covered seating and plant beds were added with fountain. In the west-north direction, there was a history museum which is changed into local artists gallary.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified some key features of the map, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully cover the changes. For instance, you mention the library was demolished but do not describe what replaced it, and the overall summary is too simplistic. To improve, you must ensure you reach the word count by providing a more comprehensive analysis of the changes, including specific comparisons between the 2014 and 2020 layouts, rather than just listing individual modifications.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into short paragraphs, which is a good start. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic transition phrases like 'Moving towards the detail' and 'in north direction', but the lack of cohesive devices makes the flow feel disjointed. The paragraphing is also quite sparse; a more balanced structure would help the reader follow the comparison between the two time periods more effectively. To improve, try using a wider range of linking words such as 'whereas', 'subsequently', or 'in contrast' to connect your observations more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'converted', 'increased', and 'changed'. There are also some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'gallary' instead of 'gallery' and 'in north direction' which should be 'in the northern part'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to urban development, such as 'transformed', 'expanded', 'replaced', or 'redeveloped', and ensure you use articles correctly when describing locations on a map.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'modification is done all the directions' is awkward and grammatically incorrect; it should be 'modifications are made in all directions'. Additionally, there are missing articles throughout the text (e.g., 'Bandstand was converted' should be 'The bandstand was converted'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of articles to improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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