Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

The given plan illustrates the layout of a university's sports centre in now and future

At present, there is a changing room, two outdoor courts, a Gym, seating, reception as well as an enterance. Whereas according to the future redevelopment, there is a leisure pool, a changing room, a gym, a seating, a sports hall, a changing room, a sports room, a cafe as well as a changing room So there is far more development in future than at present

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The student attempts to describe the two plans of the university sports centre, listing features present currently and in the future. However, the response falls severely short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 80 words. Consequently, the overview and comparisons are extremely limited, and the task is only partially addressed. Important features such as the expansion of the building, the addition of the sports hall, dance studios, and the leisure pool are merely listed without adequate development or precise comparative detail. To improve, the writer must ensure they write at least 150 words and provide a well-developed summary highlighting the main trends and major structural changes between the two plans.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The text suffers from a major structural deficiency as it consists of only two overly brief sentences, meaning proper paragraphing is absent. Cohesive devices are minimal and repetitive (e.g., 'At present', 'Whereas according to the future', 'So there is'). While there is a basic attempt to contrast the present and future layouts, the lack of a proper introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding overview prevents any clear progression of ideas. To achieve a higher band, the student must organise their response into logical paragraphs (introduction, overview, and detailed comparison paragraphs) and use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple nouns and direct descriptions from the prompt (e.g., 'changing room', 'gym', 'seating', 'reception'). There are also spelling errors such as 'enterance'. The range of vocabulary is limited and does not demonstrate flexibility or the ability to use less common lexical items appropriate for an academic report. To improve, the writer should incorporate a wider range of synonyms and paraphrasing (e.g., replacing 'is' with 'features', 'contains', or 'is equipped with') and utilise precise vocabulary related to architectural changes and spatial locations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response demonstrates a very limited range of sentence structures, consisting almost entirely of long, run-on simple sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions or transitions. There is a lack of complex grammatical structures. Grammatical control is weak, with missing punctuation marks such as periods at the ends of sentences, and spelling errors like 'enterance'. The heavy reliance on basic patterns and punctuation errors restricts the grammar score. To improve, the student needs to incorporate a mix of complex sentences containing subordinate clauses and ensure accurate punctuation and capitalization throughout the text.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.