Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-13

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 layout compare the town square and near areas how it was in 2014 and how it should be in 2020.

Overall, the area was built according the oldest way which will renovate and converted into a facilitated area by adding many new facilities including,children ground, markets etc.

In 2014, the center part consisted a fountain which will same but some new assetes will add like children play area adjacent to fountain and the bottom area which was empty in 2014 will utilize for sitting in 20's. For instance, the top right corner consisted fish market will expect to change into supermarket in 2000, adjoning this a town hall is located will remain same as in 2014. Down to the town hall a bandstand was placed which will changed into plant beds in 2000.

In addition, bottom corner to the fountain area, a second fish market was located which will remove and have been reconstructed into bars and restaurants. Behind the fountain, a history museum was located in 2014 which, will transfer into local artists gallery whereas a libraray was present at just down to histroy museum which will remove.

In 2014, administrative buildings area were present just near to fountain squad which will use for shops in coming years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the transformation, such as the addition of the children's play area and the conversion of the fish markets. However, the report is marred by significant inaccuracies in temporal referencing. You frequently refer to the future state as '2000' or '20's' instead of '2020', which creates confusion. While you identify key changes, the description of the layout is sometimes imprecise, such as the vague mention of 'administrative buildings' which are not clearly defined in the source. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe the dates provided in the prompt and focus on clearly contrasting the 'before' and 'after' states with more precise spatial language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, 'In addition, bottom corner to the fountain area' is grammatically awkward and lacks a smooth transition. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track the location of specific features. While there is an attempt at logical progression, the flow is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'oldest way' instead of 'original layout', 'assetes' (spelling error), and 'fountain squad' instead of 'fountain square'. You rely on basic verbs like 'add', 'change', and 'remove'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'redeveloped', 'transformed', 'replaced', 'demolished', and 'designated'. Additionally, ensure you proofread for spelling errors, as these detract from the professional tone required for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'which will same', 'which will remove'), missing articles, and awkward prepositional phrases. The misuse of future tense markers when describing the 2020 plans is a recurring issue. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing planned developments will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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