Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-30

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 map illustrates the layout of university sports centre before and after development .

Overall, it is very evident that there has been many changes in outdoor courts of both sides . There are new dance studios, cafes, leisure pool and changing pool.

To begin with before development we can clearly see that by entering there was a reception and then around the pool in east there was seating and in west there was changing room , these strructure with the gym also has not been changed after the development also .

In future plan the development is very evident, now the university sports centre holds many activity room not only pool but also dance studios in the east and leisure pool in the west of the main pool .

In future plan there is also cafe and sports shop before even we can encounter the reception and then beside both of them there is changing rooms .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the maps, noting the retention of core facilities like the 25m pool and reception, alongside major expansions such as the removal of outdoor courts to accommodate a leisure pool, dance studios, a sports hall, a cafe, and a sports shop. However, the overview is rather superficial and some details are slightly imprecise (e.g., mentioning "changing pool" instead of changing rooms). The overall structure attempts to contrast the present layout with the future plans, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1, but the development of ideas lacks depth and precision. This aligns well with a Band 5.5 to 6.0 profile, and a score of 5.5 is awarded.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay is divided into a few short paragraphs, but the overall organisation lacks a clear, logical progression. The introduction is very brief, and the body paragraphs jump between features without a smooth flow. Cohesive devices are used minimally or somewhat awkwardly, such as "To begin with before development" and "In future plan the development is very evident". Referencing is occasionally unclear, and paragraphing is underdeveloped. These issues point towards a Band 5.0 level where cohesion is mechanical and logical progression is disrupted.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but repetitive and limited. The student successfully uses basic terms related to buildings and maps (e.g., "reception", "gym", "outdoor courts", "cafe"), but attempts at less common or more precise vocabulary lead to inaccuracies or unnatural collocations, such as "changing pool" instead of changing rooms, and "activity room". Word formation and spelling errors are also present, restricting the range and precision. This fits comfortably into the Band 5.0 descriptor range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ("layout of university sports centre"), subject-verb agreement issues ("there has been many changes"), and run-on sentences with comma splices ("...after development . Overall, it is..."). Punctuation and capitalization are also erratic. While meaning is generally recoverable despite the errors, the frequency of inaccuracies prevents the score from reaching Band 6.0. A score of 5.0 is appropriate.

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