Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-01
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 6.0)
The pictured sketch displays the structure of the university's sports centre before and after renovation which has to be done in the future.
Overall, the area is expanded by replacing the two outdoor courts with different areas for creative activities.
At present, as we enter through the main gate we find a reception. The sports centre has a 25 metre long pool in the centre surrounded by a GYM to the north, seating and changing room by the right and left respectively. Outside this zone, there exist two outdoor courts on either sides.
On the other hand, the future version consist of a huge extended hall with various modifications. The Gym is expanded into a longer area and a sports hall just below it. To the right of the entrance there is a cafe constructed and a sports shop opposite to it. There are two changing room on the both corners of the venue at the bottom. The outdoor courts is substitute by leisure pool on the west and dance studios on the east.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the two diagrams, including the expansion of the gym, the addition of the cafe and shop, and the replacement of the outdoor courts. The overview is clear and identifies the main trend of expansion and functional change. However, some descriptions lack precision; for instance, the location of the new facilities is slightly vague, and the term 'bottom' is not ideal for describing a map layout. To reach a higher band, ensure that spatial relationships are described with more academic terminology (e.g., 'in the southern section' rather than 'at the bottom'). Overall, the response is well-focused and addresses the prompt effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs detailing the 'present' and 'future' states. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'At present', 'On the other hand', and 'to the right of', which help guide the reader through the changes. However, the flow between some sentences is slightly mechanical. The use of referencing could be improved to avoid repetitive sentence structures. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods, which assists in the overall clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'redevelopment', 'modifications', and 'substitute' used correctly. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'the outdoor courts is substitute by', which should be 'are substituted by'. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly informal or imprecise, such as 'the both corners'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to architectural changes and spatial descriptions. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly, but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the future version consist', 'the outdoor courts is substitute') and article usage ('a GYM', 'the both corners'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization and verb tense consistency when describing future changes versus current states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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