Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-07

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 chart illustrate information about that , town square and surroundings area in 2014 and plan development area completed by 2020

By having cursory glance it is vivid that , the town square area was in 2014 the north west side of town fish market and small town hall was located .moreover the east side of town history museum and library located . the center of town fountain area and band stand is located . furthermore , west side of town administrative building s located . on the south side of town some fish restaurant and bar shops was there .

moving further ahead , in 2020 fish market area was changed with supermarket . history museum changed with local artist gallery . moreover , the center of town fountain are was same side around the fountain some new areas was built plan beds and children playground and some covered seating was new built . furthermore , administrative buildings was replaced with some shops . bars and restaurants shift to center of town

overall , the town square and surroundings was many development between 2014 to 2020

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, identifying the key changes between 2014 and 2020. However, the overview is weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from commercial/administrative functions to more leisure-oriented spaces. While the main features are reported, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. The information is presented accurately, but the lack of a cohesive summary of the overall transformation limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from 2014 to 2020. However, the use of cohesive devices is often awkward or repetitive (e.g., 'furthermore', 'moreover'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences is disjointed. The opening sentence is poorly constructed, and the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel mechanical. Improved use of transition signals and better sentence-to-sentence connection would enhance the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'was changed with', 'was located', and 'was there' are used frequently. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'map chart illustrate' (should be 'maps illustrate') and 'plan development area' (should be 'planned development of the area'). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more precise or academic terminology to describe the changes in the town square.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'administrative buildings was replaced', 'bars and restaurants shift') and article usage. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also problematic, with erratic comma placement and missing capital letters at the start of sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents a higher score.

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

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