Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-03
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 from the left side shows a town square and sorrounding area in 20214 and also the plans for development of the area that has to be completed until 2020.
First of all, in the main center it's kept the fountain. Also, around the fountain, the town hall has been kept.
On the other hand, the main modifications are made by adding and dividing some of the things, as well as modifying the existing buildings. The administrative buildings were divided in small parts to transform them into shops, as well the the fish restaurant and the library were transformed into bars and restaurants. The history museum is also converted into gallery for local artists. The bandstand has been excluded form the diagram and has been substituted by the plant beds above the fountain, on the diagram, on each side. In front of the bars and restaurants, were bought covered seats, also in front of them in the right side was made a children's playground.
In the left of the town hall, in 20214 was a fish market, that has been closed and then opened a supermarket.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the diagram, such as the transformation of buildings and the addition of new facilities like the playground. However, the overview is missing; a summary of the most significant changes should be provided in the introduction or as a separate paragraph. Additionally, there are inaccuracies in the data reporting, such as the mention of '20214' instead of 2014, and the description of the bandstand being 'excluded' when it is actually replaced by plant beds. The response would benefit from a more structured approach to comparing the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is somewhat disjointed. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'First of all', 'On the other hand'), they are sometimes used mechanically or inappropriately. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'modifying the existing buildings' which lacks a clear link to the specific structures mentioned later. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved to better group related changes, such as separating the building conversions from the new outdoor features.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'transformed' and 'made'. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'adding and dividing some of the things' or 'were bought covered seats'. The spelling error 'sorrounding' and the confusion regarding the dates ('20214') detract from the overall quality. To reach a higher band, you should use more precise terminology related to urban planning, such as 'redeveloped', 'converted into', or 'replaced by'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'in the main center it's kept the fountain' (awkward passive construction), 'as well the the fish restaurant' (repetition and missing preposition), and 'in the left of the town hall' (incorrect preposition). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often clunky. A greater focus on accurate subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage is needed to improve the grammatical accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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