Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-07
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The two maps below show road access to a city hospital in 2007 and 2010.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons wherever relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given pair of layout represents the redevelopment of road access of city hospital in year 2007 to 2010.
Overall it is crystal clear that the city road and hospital road remains untouched while redeveloping the area.
At a fleeting glance, to begin within 2007 the plan wasn't bigger than that of 2010 this clearly shown by the extensions along the sites and roads. Additionally, on the east of map in 2007 there was bus stop whilst in 2010 they created a roundabout one the same spot. Moreover they opened an entrance through public car park along the ring road in year 2010.
Moving further double new roundabouts were also introduced along the hospital way and bus station was enlarged to compared to old in 2007. therefore in 2007 staff and public parking were built on the same campus however in 2010 in they preferred to separate to them into two different positions. Lastly, as it shown in the plans above 2010 plan was modern and organised comparing to 2007 sketch map.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the new roundabouts, the relocated car parks, and the expanded bus station. However, the overview is somewhat weak; stating that the city and hospital roads remain 'untouched' is inaccurate, as the maps show significant changes to access points and roundabouts. While the key changes are identified, the description lacks precision in spatial referencing (e.g., 'along the sites' is vague). To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most significant trends, such as the overall increase in infrastructure complexity and the shift in parking arrangements, rather than focusing on minor details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'Moving further'. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'At a fleeting glance, to begin within 2007'. The referencing is occasionally unclear; for instance, 'they' is used without a clear antecedent in several places. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking phrases and ensuring that the subject of each sentence is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'plan wasn't bigger' and 'modern and organised' are somewhat simplistic. There are also minor collocation issues, such as 'sketch map' (which is not a sketch) and 'separate to them'. While the student successfully uses terms like 'redevelopment', 'roundabout', and 'campus', the range is limited. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise descriptive language related to urban planning and spatial changes, such as 'infrastructure', 'accessibility', or 'configuration'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that, while not impeding communication, are noticeable. Examples include 'The given pair of layout represents' (should be 'layouts represent'), 'in year 2007' (missing 'the'), and 'as it shown' (should be 'as is shown'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalisation. While the student attempts complex structures, the control is not consistent. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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