Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-28

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 shows a town square and surroundings in 2014 while the second map shows plan for development of that area in 2020.

Overall, many changes have planned for 2020 but some objects and area stays same. Fountain which is in center of the sqaure and town hall are not planned to move from their place. However, all other shops and buildings will be moved and new areas will be developed.

In 2014, there is a fish market and a town hall on upper side of the sqaure from which fish market is replaced with supermarket in 2020 while town hall is standing right there. Also, in the empty area in center is filled with plant beds, children's playground and covered seating latter year. Moreover, history museum is replaced with local artists' gallary. In addition, fish restaurant and bar are enlarged with multiples of them at lower corners, yet library is removed. Administrative buildings are replaced with some shops. Bandstand from center is also eliminated in latter year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main purpose of the maps and give a useful overview by noting that the fountain and town hall remain while much of the square is redeveloped. You also report several key changes accurately, including the fish market becoming a supermarket, the museum becoming a gallery, and administrative buildings being replaced by shops. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the central area is not filled with plant beds; the fountain remains there, with seating to either side and a playground to the east. The bandstand is removed, but it was north-east of the fountain, not in the centre. The library’s removal is relevant, but the new northern plant beds and the two seating areas could be described more precisely. This covers the task, though some features are less fully reported than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph describing the changes. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Also,” and “Moreover” signal relationships between points. However, the final paragraph moves rapidly from one location to another without a clear spatial order, and some links are mechanical or do not clarify the relationship between details. For example, “In addition” introduces the restaurant changes, while “yet” joins the library’s removal to them without a clear contrast. Grouping changes by area—north, centre, then west and south—would create a clearer progression. More precise referencing would also help distinguish the square’s central features from its surrounding buildings.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of map vocabulary, including “replaced,” “enlarged,” “eliminated,” and “developed,” and terms such as “town square,” “fountain,” and “administrative buildings” suit the task. Meaning is generally understandable, but several choices are imprecise or awkward: “objects and area stays same” is vague, and “enlarged with multiples of them” does not clearly describe the new bars and restaurants. There are also spelling errors in “sqaure” and “gallary,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise phrases that describe what is added, removed, or retained, and check spelling carefully. This would make the account more natural and exact without requiring unusually advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while” and “which,” and the main comparisons can usually be understood. However, some grammatical errors recur. For example, “many changes have planned” needs a passive form (“many changes are planned”), while “some objects and area stays same” has problems with number agreement and articles. “Fountain which is in center” also needs an article and clearer clause punctuation, and “In the empty area in center is filled” has an incorrect sentence structure. Tense and passive constructions are especially important when describing planned changes. Practise forming accurate present-tense descriptions of the existing map and passive or future forms for the proposed development.

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

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