Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-23
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 diagram below illustrates the structure of a town square with it's surrounding area in 2014 and its it's new development plan to be completed by 2020.
Overall, the existing building has few structures in place. The fish market and town hall are situated along the main road while the fountain is at the center of the building. The bandstand is on the northeast adjacent to the administrative buildings.
The history museum and library is on the west side.
Additionally, the bar is at the bottom end opposite the fish restaurant to provide refreshments for visitors.
By 2020, the town square is expected to transform significantly with additional structures planned to be in place. The fountain situated in the central part of the building will be surrounded by children's playground on the east and plant beds on the northern part. A sitting area will also be introduced for visitors to relax and enjoy the view.
A fish market to be replaced by supermarket while the town hall remains unchanged.
On the other hand, most of the surrounding are will be transformed and replaced by shops and the history museum to be replaced with local artists' gallery for entertainment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the town square in both 2014 and 2020. You provided a clear overview and highlighted the key changes, such as the introduction of the playground and the replacement of the fish market. However, the response lacks a clear, comparative structure. While you mention the 2014 layout and the 2020 plans, the transition between the two could be more analytical. To improve, ensure you explicitly compare the two timeframes rather than listing them separately. For instance, instead of just stating the fish market will be replaced, you could contrast the commercial focus of 2014 with the recreational focus of 2020.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the existing layout to the future plans. You use some cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'the building' is used to refer to the entire town square area, which is imprecise). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the map, using terms like 'situated', 'adjacent', and 'transform'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the existing building has few structures' (the diagram shows an area, not a single building) and 'surrounding are' (a typo for 'area'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise geographical and descriptive vocabulary, such as 'redeveloped', 'replaced by', or 'situated in the vicinity of', and ensure you proofread for basic spelling errors that occasionally distract from your message.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'it's' (possessive 'its' is required), 'most of the surrounding are will be transformed', and missing articles (e.g., 'replaced by supermarket'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'the history museum and library is' (should be 'are'). To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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