Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-04

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 picture illustrates the two different maps of road access to a hospital in 2007 and 2010.

Initially, there are some similarities in both images, like ring road and hospital road are attached to hospital. City road also visible in both images. On the other hand, bus stop in 2007 was far away, while in 2010 it converted to bus station that nearest to hospital.

For the instance, there are only one car parking for staff and public in 2007, but it will be re designed in 2010 and add one more parking, east parking for public use, while south parking for staff. To control traffic, in 2010 a roundabout was attached in south way to the medical center that was missing in 2007. These are the major changes of healthcare center in both pictures. Roads development and parking for public and bus station are the key highlights of these images.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, including the changes to road access, parking, and the bus station. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the overall improvement in infrastructure and traffic management. While the key changes are identified, the description of the roundabout and the specific locations of the parking areas could be more precise. The response addresses the task requirements, but the analysis remains at a surface level, lacking the depth required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Initially', 'On the other hand', and 'For the instance', though some are used incorrectly or sound unnatural. For example, 'For the instance' is not standard English. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the maps, which helps the reader follow the comparison between 2007 and 2010.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the changes in the maps. However, there is a lack of variety and precision. Phrases like 'attached to hospital' and 'south way' are somewhat simplistic or inaccurate. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'it converted to bus station'. To achieve a higher score, the student should use more precise terminology related to urban planning and map description, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'integrated', or 'facilitated'. The range is sufficient to convey the main points but lacks sophistication.

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 missing articles ('there are only one car parking', 'in south way') and tense inconsistencies ('it will be re designed' instead of 'it was redesigned'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. The control over punctuation and sentence construction is limited. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that verb tenses are consistent when describing past events.

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

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