Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-15
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 5.5)
The plans illustrate the reconstruction of University's sports layout that how it will look like.
In overall, sports centre is mostly changed in the area of outdoor courts meanwhile in the area of entrance. A few changes near to the pool.
starting the redeveloped portions, the north side of pool, a gym is located which is increased in length. While outdoor courts are located in the west and east of the sports centre are reconstructed to a large size of leisure pool and a spots hall.
Moving to the remaining section of the University's sports centre, east area of the cntre two dance studios are built. while in the entrance the reception remains unchanged, in contrast west of the reception section a sport shop is provided and in the both corners two changing rooms are added. While the 25m pool and the changing room which connected to it and the and seating area, all these are inchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the plans, identifying the key changes such as the expansion of the gym and the addition of the leisure pool and dance studios. However, the overview is somewhat weak and lacks clarity. The description of the layout is occasionally confusing, particularly when describing the location of the new facilities (e.g., 'west and east of the sports centre'). While the main features are reported, the comparison between the 'now' and 'after' states could be more precise to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 6 or higher. The response would benefit from a more structured approach to grouping the changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. Phrases like 'starting the redeveloped portions' and 'moving to the remaining section' are used, but the internal flow within paragraphs is disjointed. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes. The use of cohesive devices is present but often feels forced or inaccurate, which impacts the overall readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices and minor errors, such as 'spots hall' (likely a typo for sports hall) and 'cntre'. The range is limited to basic descriptive terms, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To improve, you should focus on using more varied vocabulary to describe spatial relationships and changes in size or function.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'In overall, sports centre is mostly changed' (missing articles and awkward phrasing) and 'the 25m pool and the changing room which connected to it... all these are inchanged' (incorrect verb tense and spelling). Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction limits the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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