Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-19
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 above illustrate the current layout and plans for development of a town square and surrounding area expected to be completed in over 6 years, from 2014 to 2020.
Overall, there have been considerable changes done to the area in the redevelopment plan. Some things are removed, some are replaced and some are added. For instance, the biggest change is expansion of the town and addition of multiple new facilities and infrastructure, such as children's playground, seating areas and a supermarket. At the centre of the town hall, the fountain remained the only constant structure.
Moreover, the fish market is replaced by the supermarket, and fish restaurant is replaced by more shops. Plant beds are installed in the 2020 plan, in the spot previously occupied by a bandstand. The administrative buildings on the east side seems to be removed completely. Bars and restaurant increased in quantity, as compared to in 2014, where there was only one bar in the south. History museum and library on the west side of the town hall are removed and a local artist's gallery is established in its place.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the town square in 2014 and the proposed changes for 2020. An overview is provided, highlighting the general redevelopment and replacement of certain facilities. Key spatial relationships and changes are noted, such as the replacement of the fish market with a supermarket and the expansion of bars and restaurants. However, there are minor inaccuracies in spatial referencing, such as stating 'At the centre of the town hall, the fountain remained the only constant structure' (the fountain is in the centre of the square, not the town hall). Despite this, the response provides a clear summary with relevant comparisons, satisfying the criteria well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text exhibits a clear logical arrangement with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and a body paragraph detailing specific changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'For instance', 'Moreover', and 'as compared to' are used to connect ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to structure the response. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional minor cohesion faults appear, such as in the phrasing 'as compared to in 2014, where there was only one bar in the south'. Overall, progression is maintained adequately throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'redevelopment plan', 'infrastructure', and 'constant structure'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'considerable changes done to the area' instead of 'made', and 'At the centre of the town hall' instead of 'square'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lexical range remains somewhat limited, preventing the response from reaching a higher band. Vocabulary choices effectively convey the main information despite minor slips.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at varied grammatical structures (e.g., 'as compared to in 2014, where there was only one bar'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'considerable changes done', 'Some things are removed', 'the administrative buildings on the east side seems' (agreement error), and 'artist's gallery' (minor punctuation/possessive slip). Nevertheless, these errors do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the report, placing it solidly in the band 6 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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