Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The plans describe the present layout of the university's sports centre and another one describe that how it will look in the future after redevelopment. As with the current layout, there are outdoor courts on either side of the sports center and after the redevelopment both outdoor courts will be inside the sports center.

Reception and pool remained unchanged and it will stay at the same place and at same size after redevelopment. Area of gym will be increased after redevelopment. The future layout will have a dance studio, sports hall and cafe on the right and a leisure pool and sports shop on the left where the outdoor court is currently located. Additionally, in the future the seating area and a changing room will be kept in the same place where they are located in the current layout.

Two additional changing rooms will be added to the left and right corners. Overall, it is clear that the redevelopment will feature many new features.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response successfully addresses the task by summarising the main features of the university sports centre before and after redevelopment and making relevant comparisons. The writer correctly identifies that the outdoor courts are replaced by indoor facilities such as a leisure pool, sports hall, dance studios, and a sports shop. Key elements like the 25m pool, central reception, and seating areas are noted as remaining unchanged, while the gym's expansion is also mentioned. Although some minor details are omitted or generalised, the overview is clear and the core changes are accurately captured, satisfying the requirements for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 6 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is divided into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction that paraphrases the prompt, followed by body paragraphs describing the spatial changes, and concluding with a brief summary statement. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Additionally' and 'Overall', but referencing is occasionally mechanical or slightly repetitive (e.g., repeatedly using 'after redevelopment'). The overall logical arrangement is coherent and easy to follow, but paragraphing could be structured more fluidly to group spatial transformations by location, placing it firmly at Band 6.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and spatial layouts, such as 'layout', 'redevelopment', 'outdoor courts', and 'seating area'. However, there are instances of unnatural phrasing and repetition, notably 'and another one describe that how it will look' and the frequent reuse of 'after redevelopment'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited precision, and word choices are occasionally basic. These limitations reflect Band 5.5 to 6 lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'As with the current layout, there are outdoor courts on either side...' and 'The future layout will have a dance studio...'. However, there are noticeable grammatical errors, particularly with verb tense and voice consistency, as seen in 'and another one describe that how it will look' and 'Reception and pool remained unchanged and it will stay...'. While these errors do not severely impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching Band 6.5.

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

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