Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-05
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 below illustrate the layout of a university’s sports centre now, and how it will look after redevelopment.
To begin with, the entrance will be same from the southern side and there will be reception as it is at present from the right side of entrance a new cafe will be installed and beside the cafe there will be a new changing room. Furthermore, two dance studios will be constructed in the eastern and north eastern sides. Moreover, on the left hand side of the entrance there will be a brand new sports shop and changing room, In addition, a huge leisure pool will be constructed in place of Outdoor courts which can be accessed from changing room. In the middle of the sports centre there will be a 25m Pool which will not be changed and it will be surrounded by changing room, gym and seating area. The gym will be elongated in the northern side and a new Sports hall will be constructed in place of sports hall.
Overall, with all the clear perspective the university sports centre will undergo significant redevelopment in future.
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 redevelopment plan, identifying key changes such as the new cafe, dance studios, and the leisure pool. However, the overview is weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes, such as the expansion of the gym or the addition of new facilities. The description of the layout is somewhat repetitive and lacks a logical flow, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the transformation. While the task is addressed, the lack of a clear, comparative overview prevents it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure you highlight the most striking differences between the 'now' and 'future' plans in a concise summary paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, but the internal structure is problematic. The second paragraph is a long, dense block of text that lacks clear logical progression, jumping between different areas of the sports centre without a consistent spatial focus. While some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'In addition' are used, they feel mechanical and do not always effectively link the ideas. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'in place of sports hall', which is confusing given the context. Better paragraphing—perhaps grouping changes by location or type—would significantly improve the flow and readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. Phrases like 'will be same' and 'will be installed' are functional but repetitive. There is a reliance on basic descriptive language, and some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'with all the clear perspective'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and plans, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'transformed into', or 'extended'. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'build' or 'change' will help demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally hinder clarity. For example, 'the entrance will be same' is missing an article, and there are several run-on sentences, such as '...sports shop and changing room, In addition, a huge leisure pool...'. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the writing from being considered error-free. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence boundary punctuation will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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