Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-24

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 two diagrams delineate the current layout and the future development in a university's sports centre.

Overall, it is clear that several changes will happen in the future, which includes the cafe, sports shop, leisure pool, two dance studio and the sports hall.

To begin with, the gym will be expanded toward the eastern side and connected with the sports hall and also gym will be connected with the dance studio. In addition, leisure pool will be built next to changing room and on the place of outdoor courts and sports hall will be constructed and it connected with dance studios.

According to the diagram, the cafe will be built near the reception and also sports shop will be built near leisure pool. The Changing room will be built with sports shop and with cafe it will be attached with both of it. In contrast, the 25m pool, gym, changing room, reception and seating will remain at their old place in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main features of the current sports centre and the proposed future layout. An overview is provided, noting the general nature of the transformation, such as the addition of a café, sports shop, leisure pool, dance studios, and a sports hall, while also correctly pointing out that the 25m pool, gym, changing rooms, reception, and seating remain in their original places. Key comparisons and spatial relationships between the old and new layouts are reported accurately. While some descriptions of the exact adjacencies are slightly repetitive, the response covers all key developments visible in the visual data. Therefore, this performance satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.5, leaning towards Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing specific spatial changes. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', 'According to the diagram', and 'In contrast' are employed to guide the reader through the map features. However, referencing can sometimes be slightly mechanical or repetitive, and paragraphing could be structured more cleanly to separate the western extensions from the eastern additions. Nonetheless, there is a clear overall progression, which justifies a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a map and spatial changes, using terms like 'delineate', 'layout', 'expansion', 'constructed', and 'remain'. There are some minor lexical inaccuracies and omissions, such as 'two dance studio' (plural noun needed) and slightly awkward phrasing like 'it connected with dance studios'. Despite these errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main features clearly, earning a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing passive structures ('will be built', 'will be expanded') which are appropriate for process or map descriptions. However, there are several grammatical inaccuracies and missing articles, such as 'which includes the cafe' (subject-verb agreement error with plural antecedents) and 'leisure pool will be built' (missing article 'a'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors occur, they rarely impede communication. This corresponds well to a Band 6.0 descriptor.

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