Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-07
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 given diagram showed the layout of a university sports centre now , and how it will look after redevelopment.
To begin with, The old sports centre had reception in south direction. Then, there was a 25m pool. Afterthat, in north side had gym area where people do exercise. Moreover, on the left side of pool had changing room where players change their clothes and on the right side players can seat in thr seating area. In addition, on the west and east side had two outdoor courts for players to play.
In future plans, the redevlopment of the sports club will have alot of new facilities such as in the west direction there will be a leisure pool for swimming and in the east direction will have two dance studios. Beside, the studio there will be a small cafe . On the opposite side of the cafe there will be a sports shop. Futhermore, new centre includes three changing room for players. While, some areas are same such as reception, 25m pool, gym and seating area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 current and future layouts. However, the overview is missing; a high-scoring response must include a clear summary of the most significant changes, such as the expansion of facilities. The description of the current layout is somewhat repetitive and lacks precise comparative language. While the key features are identified, the report would benefit from a more analytical approach rather than simply listing the locations of items. To improve, ensure you highlight the overall transformation of the space rather than just detailing individual components.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is appropriate. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'Afterthat' (which should be 'After that') and 'Beside, the studio'. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the current state to the future plan, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of sophisticated linking words limits the flow of the text. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would help the response achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several spelling errors, such as 'redevlopment', 'Futhermore', and 'thr'. The use of vocabulary is somewhat basic, relying on simple directional language like 'north side' or 'left side'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and diagrams, such as 'situated in the northern sector', 'adjacent to', or 'undergoing a transformation'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and nouns would significantly enhance your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The old sports centre had reception in south direction' (missing articles), 'on the left side of pool had changing room' (incorrect sentence structure), and 'new centre includes three changing room' (pluralization error). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, proper article usage, and consistent tense control (using future forms for the redevelopment) is essential for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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