Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-06
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 presented maps illustrate changes to road access to the urban area hospital across two different periods, 2007 and 2010. Overall, the comparison of the two maps reveals a significant alteration of road in three to four years.
To commence with, in 2007, the car parking for staff and public was combined near the hospital road. Nevertheless, in 2010, the parking area divided into two. One for staff members and other for public. The staff car parking seemed to be same as in 2007, while the public car parking area held just beside the city hospital.
Furthermore, the six bus stops was located just near the hospital road in 2007, whereas new alteration developed just opposite to the staff car parking area in 2010. The bus station which significantly linked the city hospital and city road. Meanwhile, the roundabout also showed at the crossover of the city hospital and city road in 2010.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 changes to parking and the addition of the roundabout and bus station. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the mention of the 'six bus stops' in 2007 is accurate, but the description of the 2010 changes is vague, referring to 'new alteration' without clearly explaining the layout of the new bus station. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes, such as the improved road infrastructure. To improve, ensure that all key features are described with greater precision and that the overview highlights the most striking trends rather than just stating that an alteration occurred.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Nevertheless', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, the sentence 'The bus station which significantly linked the city hospital and city road' is a fragment and lacks a clear connection to the previous sentence. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that all clauses are complete would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the changes described. There are some attempts at using topic-specific vocabulary like 'crossover' and 'alteration'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'new alteration developed' instead of 'new infrastructure was developed'. The phrasing 'held just beside' is also unnatural in this context. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', or 'constructed'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the six bus stops was located') and incomplete sentences ('the roundabout also showed at the crossover'). While the meaning remains clear, these errors are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that every sentence contains a main verb and expresses a complete thought. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will also help raise the band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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