Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-01

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 6.0)

The map illustrates a town square and nearby area in 2014 and the ideas for changes of the place to be finished by 2020.

Overall, the map will undergo some changes in 2020, transforming from a small area into a much more lively place, with the addition of multiple new places.

The fish market, which was located in the top left corner, was demolished to make way for a supermarket. Below the fish market, the history museum was transformed into a local artists gallery. Moving on to the right side, although the town hall remained unchanged, the area surrounding was transformed into shops, which used to be administrative buildings. On the bottom middle and left corner, their was a library, fish restaurant, and a bar but in 2020 the area now has bars and restaurants.

Most of the development happened in the middle, their was a fountain and a bandstand. In 2020, the area has changed substantially, while the fountain remained, the bedstand was changed into plant beds, and a children's playground was constructed with the addition of a covered seating area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main features and making relevant comparisons between the 2014 map and the 2020 plans. An overall trend is provided, and key spatial transformations are noted, such as the replacement of the fish market with a supermarket and the administrative buildings with shops. However, some aspects of the response are slightly under-developed or imprecise. For instance, the description of the southern and western features blends past and present tense awkwardly ('on the bottom middle and left corner, their was a library... but in 2020 the area now has...'). To reach the next level, the reporting of features needs to be consistently extended and supported with greater precision across all areas of the map without occasional mechanical descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical progression from an introductory overview to specific details about the northern, eastern, and central sections of the square. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate different parts of the map. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical. Transition phrases such as 'Moving on to the right side' and 'Most of the development happened in the middle' feel slightly formulaic. Furthermore, referencing and logical links between sentences occasionally falter, such as abrupt shifts in focus within the body paragraphs. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices that guide the reader smoothly through the spatial changes without relying on repetitive transitional formulas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The lexical range demonstrated is adequate for the task, allowing the student to successfully communicate the main spatial changes, such as 'demolished', 'transformed', and 'constructed'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are accompanied by lexical inaccuracies and word-choice errors that prevent a higher score. Notably, there is a recurring spelling/homophone error with 'their was' instead of 'there was'. Additionally, terms like 'bedstand' (referring to the bandstand) indicate issues with word form and terminology. To move up to the next band, the writer must expand their control of less common lexical items, ensure greater precision in word choice, and eliminate basic spelling slips while using collocation more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses such as 'which was located in the top left corner' and 'which used to be administrative buildings'. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, but these rarely impede communication. Examples include tense confusion and mixing past and present states inappropriately when describing plans for 2020, as well as prepositional slip-ups. While simple sentences are generally well-controlled, attempts at complex structures occasionally introduce minor inaccuracies. To reach a higher band, the response needs a wider variety of complex structures with more frequent error-free sentences and tighter control over tense consistency when describing future development plans on a map.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.