Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 the information how the town square and the nearby areas were looked in 2014 and the plans for development of the town to be finished by 2020.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is apparent that there were significant changes throughout the time period while in the north-west side the fish market and history museum were replaced by supermarket and local artists gallery in 2020.

In details, in the north-west side the fish market was replaced by supermarket and history museum was replaced by local artists gallery. Subsequently, in the south-west area the library was closed in 2020 and the fish market and bar both were replaced by bar and restaurants in 3020.

Nevertheless, in north-east area of town the town hall was remained at the same place and the fountain which was located in the Center was also remains same. Moreover, the bandstand was demolished and plant beds were introduced while new facilities like children’s playground and covered seats were also introduced in 2020. However, in the east side the administrative buildings were replaced by shops in 2020 in the town square.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the town square development. You provided a clear overview and highlighted the key changes between 2014 and 2020. However, the response contains some factual inaccuracies regarding the locations and the nature of the changes (e.g., mentioning a '3020' date and confusing the replacement of the fish market/bar). To reach a higher band, ensure that your data extraction is precise and that you avoid contradictory statements. The overview is present, but the reporting of details needs to be more accurate to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Looking from an overall perspective', 'In details', and 'Nevertheless' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the repetitive use of 'in 2020' at the end of several sentences. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that the flow between sentences is more natural would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demolished', 'introduced', and 'administrative buildings'. However, there are some word choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'how the town square... were looked' and 'the town hall was remained'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your description. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that your verb forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with passive voice construction (e.g., 'the town hall was remained' instead of 'the town hall remained') and tense consistency. There are also minor punctuation and article usage issues throughout the text. To achieve a higher score, focus on mastering the passive voice, which is essential for describing map changes, and ensure that your subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the essay.

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

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