Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-16

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 7.5)

The diagrams describe the current layout of a particular university's sports center, as well as showing the way it will appear following a redevelopment proposal.

Overall, the center is set to experience a number of changes, the most striking of which are the expansion of the main building and the addition of sports facilities and conveniences at the expense of two outdoor courts. These changes will transform the center into an entirely indoor, more comprehensive sports complex.

At present, the center is divided into three main parts, with two outdoor courts lying to the east and west of a building. Upon entering the building, one can immediately see a reception desk, to the left and right of which are doorways leading to a changing room and a seating area, respectively. These flank a 25m pool, and to the north of this pool is a gym.

The proposal shows a comprehensive overhaul of the center, with all facilities being integrated into one structure whose size is nearly triple that of the current building. The entrance area will accommodate a sports shop and a cafe in its southwest and southeast corners, in that order, both adjacent to new changing rooms. The western outdoor courts will be transformed into a leisure pool, while the eastern courts will be repurposed into a sports hall, accompanied by two dance studios to the right. Finally, the existing facilities in the current building are set to remain unchanged, leaving aside the gym, which will be extended eastwards, approaching the dance studios.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource8.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.5
Overall7.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the main features of both plans. The overview in the second paragraph effectively highlights the most striking changes, such as the expansion of the building and the replacement of the outdoor courts. Specific features are accurately reported, noting the retention of the 25m pool, the addition of the leisure pool and sports hall, and the extension of the gym. The comparison between the present and future layouts is clear and fully supported by the visual data. The response meets all the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response with a well-developed and accurate presentation of the information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Ideas are organized into clear paragraphs, starting with an introduction and general overview, followed by a description of the current layout, and concluding with the proposed changes. Cohesive devices are managed well, using phrases like 'Overall', 'At present', and 'The proposal shows' to guide the reader smoothly through the comparison. Referencing is clear throughout, and paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages and features of the diagrams.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to describing diagrams and spatial changes. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'comprehensive overhaul', 'repurposed', and 'adjacent to new changing rooms'. Word choice is precise, and there are no noticeable errors in spelling or word formation. The vocabulary allows for a fluid and sophisticated description of the structural modifications shown in the plans.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the student successfully employs varied sentence patterns, such as participial phrases ('leaving aside the gym, which will be extended eastwards') and relative clauses. Punctuation is accurate, and control over verb tenses is strong, moving appropriately between present descriptions and future predictions. Only occasional minor slips are present, which do not impede communication.

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