Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-22

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 5.0)

The given figure illustrates the structure of a university's sports centre before and after the redevelopment. When it comes to the redevelopment plan, it includes more facilities than the current plan. The pool, changing room, and Reception same for both structures. The gym area expands in the redevelopment. The outdoor courts have been replaced with a leisure pool, two changing rooms, a sports shop, a cafe, a sports hall, and a dance studio. The new plan organizes the premises well; however, it has a more complex structural arrangement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The student attempts to summarize the main features of the university sports centre maps, noting the expansion of the gym and the replacement of outdoor courts with various new facilities like a leisure pool and sports hall. However, the response is severely under-length, containing only 88 words against the required 150-word minimum. This results in a significant penalty. Furthermore, the overview is rather simplistic and lacks detailed comparisons and a fully developed synthesis of the key spatial changes. To achieve a higher band, the writer must ensure the word count requirement is met and provide a more comprehensive overview with specific comparative details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is very brief, consisting of a single short paragraph (aside from the introduction), which limits the ability to demonstrate advanced paragraphing skills. Ideas are presented in a basic sequence, moving from an introduction to general features. Cohesive devices are minimal and somewhat repetitive (e.g., 'When it comes to the redevelopment plan...'). While the overall message is somewhat followable, the lack of a proper paragraph structure and limited use of referencing and cohesive links mean it cannot exceed Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for basic description (e.g., 'structure', 'redevelopment', 'facilities', 'organizes'), but it lacks variety and precision. There is an awkward collocation and grammatical slip in the sentence 'The pool, changing room, and Reception same for both structures', where a verb is missing. Less common academic vocabulary is largely absent. To improve, the student should incorporate a wider range of precise lexical items related to maps and spatial changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple sentences and basic complex structures. There are noticeable grammatical errors, most notably the omission of a verb in 'The pool, changing room, and Reception same for both structures'. While some sentences are grammatically acceptable, the limited range of structures and persistent errors restrict the score. To attain a higher band, the student needs to demonstrate a greater variety of complex grammatical structures with accurate punctuation and agreement.

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

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