Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-28
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)
Present plan shows the simple layout with limited variety of acitivity areas and grabs larger space as compared to the future plan where we can see the same place with various functions and more variety of activites. In present plan there is one changing room, two outdoor courts, one seating area and one central pool with a reception. While in future layout, we can have two pools, one sports hall, one seating area, two changing rooms, two dance studios, one sports shop and one cafe. reception area remains at same place in both plans.
As compared to the present plan, future plan looks more reliable with greater activity areas and leisure pool which is more refreshing and modern. Present layout is outdated and old fashioned while the future layout plan seems more realistic, fulfilling more needs and accomodating more people. Future plan is far more better than present plan which is outdated.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The student attempts to summarise the two plans by contrasting the present layout with the future redevelopment. However, the response contains a critical factual reversal: the student states that the present plan 'grabs larger space as compared to the future plan', whereas the visual data clearly shows that the university sports centre expands outwards significantly in the future, replacing the outdoor courts with new facilities like a leisure pool, sports hall, dance studios, and a cafe. Furthermore, the tone is overly subjective and evaluative ('looks more reliable', 'more refreshing and modern', 'outdated and old fashioned') rather than objective and analytical as required for Academic Task 1. The overview is weak and inaccurate regarding spatial changes, leading to a lower band placement.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text lacks proper paragraphing, presented instead as a single block of text followed by a concluding paragraph. While there are some basic cohesive devices used to contrast the plans ('While in future layout', 'As compared to the present plan'), the overall progression is disjointed. The logical flow is hindered by the lack of clear grouping of spatial features. Reference words are used, but the structural organisation fails to meet the criteria for a well-structured Academic Task 1 response, resulting in a low score for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, relying on terms like 'layout', 'plan', 'pool', 'changing room', and 'reception'. There are noticeable lexical inaccuracies, such as using 'grabs larger space' incorrectly to describe a smaller footprint. The student also misuses words and includes spelling and capitalization errors (e.g., 'acitivity', 'activites', 'reception area remains at same place'). While the range is minimally adequate to convey a basic comparison, the frequent limitations and lack of sophisticated phrasing restrict the score to this level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are missing articles (e.g., 'Present plan shows', 'reception area remains at same place') and comparative structure errors (e.g., 'far more better', which is a double comparative). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but frequent minor grammatical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing detract from the overall quality of the writing. The sentences are understandable despite the errors, but the lack of error-free complex structures prevents a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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