Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-08

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 diagrams shows the map of town square in 2014 and its plan to renovate the area by 2020.

The first map shows the initial project of town square in 2014 in which so many areas are left out empty and of no use. If we start from upward there is fish market in the left and town hall in the right divided by a lane towards the fountain. The fountain is at the center of the town square. There is a bandstand at the right side of the fountain and there is two buildings at the left side of the fountain. One building is the history museum which is attached to the fish market and another building is the library. Both the buildings are divided by a lane by which city people can enter or go outside. At the bottom of the map there is fish market and bar which is also divided by a lane. And there is also administrative building right beside the bandstand. The administrative building is attached to town hall in one side and bar in another side.

The plans to develop the town square by 2020 is a great update to the city people. Fish market in 2014 map will be supermarket in 2020 and town hall will remain on the same place. Fountain will remain at the center surrounded by plant beds right after super market and town hall, children playground on the right and covered seating right after fountain. Bars and restaurants are at the bottom in which there was fish restaurants and bars in 2014. The history museum will be local artists gallery and administrative buildings will be divided into bunch of shops by the time 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, but the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. While you identify the changes, the report lacks a clear overview paragraph that synthesises the most significant trends, such as the shift from a commercial/administrative focus to a more leisure-oriented space. The description of the 2014 layout is overly detailed, listing individual buildings rather than grouping them into functional areas. To improve, focus on highlighting the major transformations (e.g., the replacement of the fish market with a supermarket) and ensure the overview clearly summarises the overall development plan.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for this task. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'there is', 'there are'). The progression of ideas within paragraphs is occasionally confusing, particularly when describing the spatial layout of the 2014 map. Using more varied transition signals and referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter', 'subsequently') would improve the flow. Paragraphing is present, but the transition between the description of the 2014 map and the 2020 plan could be smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'so many areas are left out empty' and 'bunch of shops' are informal and imprecise. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'is' and 'are'. To reach a higher band, incorporate more specific vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'redeveloped', 'transformed', 'converted', or 'designated'. Additionally, avoid colloquialisms to maintain an academic tone throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement ('The diagrams shows', 'there is two buildings') and missing articles ('in the left', 'at the right side'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall clarity. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage, and try to incorporate more varied complex sentence structures to demonstrate greater control.

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

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