Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-12
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 8.5)
The diagrams compare the current layout of a university sports centre with the proposed design following a major redevelopment.
Overall, the sports centre is expected to become substantially larger and offer a much wider range of facilities. While the existing gym, swimming pool and reception will remain, several new amenities, including a leisure pool, sports hall, dance studios, café and sports shop, will be added.
At present, the complex consists of a central 25-metre swimming pool with seating on its eastern side and a changing room on the west. A gym occupies the northern end of the building, while the reception is located at the main entrance in the south. Outdoor courts are situated on both the eastern and western sides of the centre.
Following redevelopment, the outdoor courts on the western side will be replaced by a large leisure pool, whereas those on the eastern side will give way to a sports hall and two dance studios. New changing rooms will be constructed in both the south-west and south-east corners to improve access for users. In addition, a sports shop will be introduced beside the western entrance, while a café will occupy the corresponding position on the eastern side. Despite these extensive additions, the central swimming pool, gym, reception and seating area will remain largely unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear overview of the changes and describing the specific modifications to the sports centre. You successfully identified the main features, such as the addition of the leisure pool, sports hall, and dance studios, while noting which elements remained unchanged. The comparison between the 'current' and 'proposed' layouts is logical and well-supported by the details provided. Your ability to synthesize the information into a coherent summary demonstrates a high level of task fulfillment, meeting all the requirements of the prompt effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', 'in addition', and 'despite' are used naturally and accurately to link sentences and clauses. The flow of information is smooth, guiding the reader from the general overview to specific spatial descriptions without any confusion. The referencing is precise, making it easy to follow the changes described in the diagrams.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary that is highly appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'substantially larger', 'proposed design', 'amenities', and 'give way to' show a high level of lexical control. Your word choice is precise, and you avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe the layout changes. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and precise throughout the text, fitting the requirements for a high band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You use a variety of complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses and passive constructions, such as 'will be replaced by' and 'will be constructed', which are perfectly suited for describing changes in a diagram. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. There are no grammatical errors, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent throughout the report. The writing is error-free and demonstrates a high level of grammatical maturity.
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