Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-26
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 plan illustrates the comparison of an university sports centre in present and in the future.
Overall, in present plan there are three blocks, where two are Outdoor courts and a big block is allocated for gym, pool, changing room and a reception. On the the future plan all blocks are combined in to one hug block with huge modifications, which includes new cafe, leisure pool and sports hall.
Looking at the detail, in the present plan there are three blocks, the huge block entrance is from south direction. Where the reception is placed infront of the entrance, there are two entrances on each side of the reception. One entrance is for changing room followed by a 25m pool and other is seating. On the opposite of the entrance the gym was placed. On the west and east side main block the outdoor courts are there.
In the future plan, there are many modifications take place. Where the entrance remains same, the three blocks combined in one huge block. On the entrance, cafe was placed at the east direction and sports shop is placed at the west side of the entrance. On the west side the changing room is placed and followed by a leisure pool. And the reception is at the same place, the 25m pool remains unchanged and east side of the pool sports hall will be placed in the future plan. The dance studio is placed at the noth-east die
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the sports centre redevelopment, including the consolidation of the blocks and the addition of new facilities like the cafe and sports hall. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical focus on the most significant changes. While the overview identifies the main trend, the body paragraphs struggle to clearly contrast the 'before' and 'after' states, leading to some confusion in the spatial description. To improve, focus on grouping features logically (e.g., indoor vs. outdoor) and ensure comparisons are explicit rather than just listing features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and awkward transitions. Phrases like 'Looking at the detail' and 'In the future plan' are used, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs is weak. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'the huge block entrance is from south direction', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout. Using a wider range of cohesive devices (e.g., 'whereas', 'in contrast', 'subsequently') would help connect the ideas more fluidly and improve the overall progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is significant repetition of basic words like 'block', 'place', and 'huge'. Some word choices are inaccurate, such as 'infront of' (should be 'in front of') and 'noth-east die' (incomplete word). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise descriptive language related to maps and plans, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'transformed', or 'expanded', and ensure correct spelling of directional terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in present plan'), incorrect verb tenses ('the gym was placed' when describing a permanent layout), and preposition errors ('on the east direction'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing static layouts will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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