Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-11

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 image shows a development plan which is under construction and is expected to be completed by the year 2020. The plan showcases a futuristic sketch of how the town development would progress over time. The 2020 approach depicts a better planning with more amenities and better structure. It addresses the need for kids play area, public seating, and more space allocated for shopping marts so the people have the basic necessities available nearby. There is one notable difference that the 2020 sketch lacks where administrative buildings will be in the final outlook and relocates fish markets with a super mart just beside the townhall. While the 2020 model exhibits better planning overall, the lack of library and replacement of history museum with art gallery is questionable. The restaurants and bars can be compressed a bit to accommodate history museum while art gallery can be moved beside the library.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response identifies the broad change from the 2014 square to the 2020 plan and mentions several relevant features, including the supermarket, playground, seating, shops and bars/restaurants. However, it only partially fulfils the map-summary task: much of the response evaluates the plan as “better” or “questionable” and proposes further changes, rather than objectively describing the main features and their locations. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: the fish market is replaced by a supermarket, not relocated, and the town hall is not described as being “just beside” it. The library’s removal and the replacement of the history museum are noted, but the central fountain’s retention and the new plant beds are omitted. The response is also one word below the required minimum. Focus on a factual overview and cover the most significant changes more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The ideas are connected in a generally understandable order: the opening introduces the development, followed by changes and then a personal judgement. Linking expressions such as “While” and “There is one notable difference” help signal relationships between points. However, there is no clear paragraphing or systematic progression through the map, and the response moves from general claims about amenities to individual changes and then recommendations. This makes it difficult to distinguish an overview from supporting details. Some references are also unclear, particularly “There is one notable difference that the 2020 sketch lacks where administrative buildings will be in the final outlook.” Organise the response into an overview and a description of changes by area, using precise references to the square.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of vocabulary and attempts some less common expressions, including “development plan,” “amenities,” “final outlook” and “accommodate.” Meaning is generally clear, but several choices are imprecise or informal for an academic map description. “Futuristic sketch” and “2020 approach” do not accurately describe a proposed layout, while “shopping marts,” “super mart” and “kids play area” are less suitable than standard map vocabulary. “Relocates fish markets” also suggests movement rather than replacement. Use neutral, precise terms for changes and locations, and avoid evaluating the plan as “better” when the task calls for a factual summary. These word-choice issues limit precision, although they do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, and several sentences communicate their meaning successfully, such as “The restaurants and bars can be compressed a bit to accommodate history museum while art gallery can be moved beside the library.” However, some grammatical choices make relationships between ideas unclear. In “There is one notable difference that the 2020 sketch lacks where administrative buildings will be in the final outlook,” the clause structure is faulty and the intended meaning is difficult to follow. The phrase “a better planning” also has an article error, and “while art gallery” needs an article. The response remains broadly understandable, but greater control of clause construction, articles and punctuation would make the comparisons clearer.

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