Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-12

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 5.0)

The 2014 plan shows that only nine buildings of respective areas over a large area per square meter for each of the buildings, whereas in the 2020 plan the whole area is divided into many sections making room for many different kind of shops.

Only the town hall and the fountain remain constant in both of the plans, In the 2020 plan the area is a hollow square with 4 openings at each side, the fountain is visible for each of the opening in the 2020 plan. There are only three openings in the 2014 plan. The 2014 plan is much more minimalistic and has some unnecessary areas like a bar and fish market along with a fish restraunt, the 2020 plan is much more realistic for a society as it offers a supermarket and shops with a covered sitting and children’s playground, 2020 plan feels much more appealing than 2014.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to provide a clear overview or a systematic comparison of the changes. While it mentions the town hall and fountain, it lacks a structured approach to describing the spatial changes. The analysis is subjective, using evaluative language like 'unnecessary' and 'more realistic,' which is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. The description of the 2020 plan as a 'hollow square' is vague, and the response fails to clearly detail the specific additions or removals of facilities (e.g., the removal of the fish market and the addition of the supermarket). To improve, you must objectively report the data provided in the diagrams without personal opinion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single, poorly structured paragraph. There is a lack of logical progression between the 2014 and 2020 descriptions. Cohesive devices are minimal and often misused, such as the comma splice in 'both of the plans, In the 2020 plan'. The transition between ideas is abrupt, making the text difficult to follow. To improve, you should use clear paragraphing—one for the overview and one or two for the specific details—and employ a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Regarding the...') to guide the reader through the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'respective areas over a large area' are unclear and lack precision. There are also spelling errors such as 'restraunt' (restaurant). The language used is informal and subjective, which is not suitable for an academic report. You should focus on using precise terminology related to maps and urban planning, such as 'demolished,' 'constructed,' 'relocated,' or 'expanded.' Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and nouns will help you convey the changes more accurately and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, including punctuation issues like comma splices and run-on sentences. There are also errors in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'visible for each of the opening'. The sentence structures are mostly simple or poorly constructed complex sentences. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate better control over punctuation and sentence variety. Focus on using accurate complex structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, which are essential for describing changes in diagrams effectively.

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

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