Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show the layout of a university’s sports centre now, and how it will look after redevelopment.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The layout illustrates the plan to develop sports centre of a university in future.

Overall, the sports centre will undergo drastic changes. There will additions like changing room, sports shop, cafe, and dance studios, while few others will be repurposed, and some will continue to remain.

At present, the entrance opens to reception in north. A changing room is located along the west wall of the sports centre. A 25m pool lies in the centre of the building. The rear of the centre is occupied by a gym. A seating is located in the east wall of the building. Two outdoor courts are situated next to main building on it west and east side.

In future, the west outdoor court will be converted into leisure pool, and the east outdoor court will be converted into a sports hall. Two changing rooms will be added on each bottom corner on the map. West to the reception is a sports shop, while on the east to the reception is a cafe. Two dance studios will be added along the east wall of the building. The gym will be extended. Although most areas on the site will remain same, while some will be repurposed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the sports centre redevelopment. You have clearly contrasted the current layout with the proposed changes, such as the conversion of the outdoor courts into a leisure pool and sports hall. The overview provides a good summary of the transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for example, the 'bottom corner' is a bit vague compared to using cardinal directions. Additionally, ensure that all major changes, such as the expansion of the gym, are integrated more fluidly into the comparative analysis rather than listed as a separate point. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the key information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on the 'present' and 'future' states. The use of paragraphing is appropriate for this task type. Cohesive devices such as 'At present', 'In future', and 'while' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparison. However, the flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the changes. For instance, the final sentence of the second paragraph is slightly repetitive in its structure. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'repurposed', 'converted', and 'drastic changes' appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'on it west and east side' (should be 'on its west and east sides') and 'on the east to the reception' (should be 'to the east of the reception'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, incorporating more precise descriptive language regarding the layout and spatial relationships would elevate the score. The range is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions and articles, such as 'develop sports centre' (should be 'develop the sports centre') and 'opens to reception in north' (should be 'opens to the reception in the north'). Additionally, the sentence 'Although most areas on the site will remain same, while some will be repurposed' contains a redundant 'while' and a missing article. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the communication remains effective. Focusing on article usage and prepositional accuracy will help improve your control over complex structures.

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

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