Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-27

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 maps illustrate the road access to a city hospital from the year 2007 to 2010.

Overall, the 2010 map shows the reconstruction and redesign of the previous city hospital. They have underwent some extensive modernization which constitutes a public car park, separated from the staff as in 2007, located at the eastern side of the hospital wall. Other modifications include two roundabouts, in the middle, on the southern side, joining the hospital road to provide better transit facilities. A development of bus station at the south-west corner is also noted, typically connecting the station with the two roundabouts, thus corresponds a smoother traffic flow.

Firstly, there is a map of a city hospital in 2007, highlighting the infrastructure of a combined car parking used by both the staff and public. Public car park is constructed at the north-eastern side of the wall, whereas the staff car parking is still occupied in the old place.

Secondly, Two roundabouts were clearly shown at each corner of the road, adjacent to the hospital. Additionally, a bus stop also joined both the roundabouts available on the road straight to the city hospital, whereas the old map shows that the bus stops were on the opposite sides of the road, facing city road.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the main differences between the two maps, identifying key changes such as the new bus station, roundabouts, and altered car park layouts. However, there are some inaccuracies and confusion in the reporting of details. For instance, the student states that the public car park is constructed at the north-eastern side, whereas the map clearly shows the new public car park on the east side of Ring Road, and the staff car park occupying the area east of Hospital Road. Additionally, the second body paragraph contains contradictory descriptions of the 2007 and 2010 maps. While an overview is present, the development of ideas lacks precision, resulting in a Band 5.5 performance for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs with an introduction, an overview, and subsequent body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is hindered by confusing transitions and structural organization. For example, the writer uses sequence markers like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' in the latter paragraphs, but these introduce isolated observations rather than a cohesive continuation of the overview. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'They have underwent some extensive modernization' where the pronoun lacks a clear antecedent. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or inaccurately applied, leading to a Band 5.5 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'reconstruction', 'modernization', and 'infrastructure'. However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'They have underwent' (should be undergone), 'occupies in the old place', and 'thus corresponds a smoother traffic flow'. Word formation and collocation issues prevent the response from achieving a higher band. Overall, the vocabulary is minimally sufficient to convey meaning, fitting the Band 6.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and participial phrases. However, grammatical inaccuracies are frequent. Examples include 'They have underwent' (incorrect past participle form), 'a combined car parking' (incorrect noun form), and 'Two roundabouts were clearly shown at each corner of the road, adjacent to the hospital.' Punctuation and verb tense consistency also show weaknesses. While communication is not severely impeded, the frequency of errors places this response firmly at Band 5.5.

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

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