Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-17

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 two given road maps illustrates how the road is used to approach the city hospital in the year 2007 and 2010.

There is a quite difference between the two maps. The bus stops on the sides of hospital road were changes to bus station and staff car park. The public car park is on the east of the city hospital. There are roundabouts to make traffic smooth.

Back in 2007, on ring road there was no parking. But now in 2010, there is a public parking area on the east of the city hospital on ring road. Further if we go down to the ring road that is in the south of the city hospital there is hospital road. Back in time there was no roundabout at that place. but now there is a one. In addition the car park in the south-east side of the ring road close to the hospital road was for all the public and staff use however it is not now. This parking area is only specified for the staff. The bus stops on the sides of the hospital road are changed to bus station connected to both the roundabouts. There is also a roundabout on the city road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, such as the addition of roundabouts and changes to parking and bus facilities. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear overview. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between 2007 and 2010 could be more structured. The report would benefit from a more analytical approach, grouping features logically rather than listing them chronologically in a way that feels repetitive. The information is accurate, but the lack of a distinct summary paragraph prevents it from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'but now' and 'there is'. The progression of ideas is clear enough to follow, but the transitions between the description of the parking and the road infrastructure feel abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and referencing (e.g., using 'the latter' or 'this development') would help create a more cohesive and professional flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes to the hospital access. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on basic descriptors. Phrases like 'quite difference' (should be 'significant difference') and 'back in time' are slightly unnatural in an academic context. There is an attempt to use specific terminology like 'roundabouts' and 'staff car park', but the overall lexical variety is restricted. To improve, the student should focus on more precise collocations and varied synonyms for change.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The two given road maps illustrates' (subject-verb agreement) and 'there is a one' (incorrect article usage). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'Further if we go down to the ring road that is in the south...'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. A greater focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage is recommended.

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

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