Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given maps illustrate the current layout of university's sports Centre and how it will look after development. Overall, the sports Centre will become more developed with addition of some new features, while few elements remained at their original location.

At present, there is reception on the south of the map. A pool is located at the Centre with changing room on west and seating area on the east of it. Outdoor courts are placed at both east and west of map with a gym situated at the north end of the map.

After development, the central area will remain same, while the gym will be extended. The outdoor courts placed at the west side of map will be replaced by a leisure pool with addition of sports shop and changing room at bottom of it. A sports hall, dance studios will be introduced at the east where outdoor courts are located right now with a cafe and a changing room besides it at southeast side of the map.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the two maps, providing a clear overview and comparing the current layout with the proposed redevelopment. You successfully identified the main changes, such as the expansion of the gym and the replacement of outdoor courts with new facilities like the leisure pool and sports hall. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more precise spatial descriptions. For example, instead of saying 'at bottom of it', use more formal directional language like 'to the south of the pool'. Additionally, ensure all features mentioned in the prompt are accounted for; you missed mentioning the relocation or status of the reception area in the final plan, which is a minor omission.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into three paragraphs: an introduction with an overview, a description of the current layout, and a description of the future layout. The progression of ideas is clear, and the information is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'At present' and 'After development', to signal the transition between timeframes. However, the cohesion is occasionally mechanical. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'it', 'there') is always unambiguous. The paragraphing is appropriate for a report of this nature.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'layout', and 'introduced' appropriately. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. For instance, you use 'placed' and 'located' multiple times. To improve, incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to urban planning or architectural changes, such as 'converted', 'replaced by', or 'integrated'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is never impeded, there are some minor errors, such as missing articles ('the' university's sports centre, 'the' west side) and minor punctuation issues. You have a good grasp of future tense structures ('will be extended', 'will be replaced'), which is essential for this task. To achieve a higher score, aim for more complex sentence variety, such as using relative clauses or passive voice constructions more fluidly to describe the changes in the layout.

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

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