Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-02

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 8.0)

The plans illustrate the existing layout of a university sports centre and the proposed changes following its redevelopment.

Overall, the sports centre is set to undergo substantial expansion, with a number of new recreational and sporting facilities being introduced. The most significant changes will be the replacement of the outdoor courts with a leisure pool and a sports hall, as well as the addition of dance studios, changing rooms, a café and a sports shop. By contrast, the existing gym, 25-metre pool, seating area and reception will remain in place.

At present, the centre comprises a main rectangular building, with a 25-metre swimming pool occupying the central area. The gym is located at the northern end, while the changing room is positioned to the west of the pool and the seating area to its east. The reception is situated directly below the pool at the southern entrance. In addition, identical outdoor courts are located on either side of the main building.

Under the proposed redevelopment, the western outdoor courts will be replaced by a large leisure pool. A new changing room and a sports shop will be constructed in the southwestern corner, adjacent to the main entrance. On the eastern side, the existing outdoor courts will make way for a sports hall. Two dance studios will be added along the eastern edge of the centre, one above the other. Furthermore, a café and another changing room will be built in the southeastern section.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and highlighting the main features of the sports centre's layout before and after the redevelopment. Key changes—such as the replacement of outdoor courts with a leisure pool and a sports hall, as well as the retention of the 25-metre pool, gym, seating, and reception—are accurately reported and contrasted. The information is fully grounded in the provided visual data, and the progression from the present layout to the future plans is logical and easy to follow. To reach the highest level, the student could incorporate more precise spatial comparisons or dimensional details where applicable, ensuring every single minor alteration is integrated into a more comprehensive comparative analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, guiding the reader smoothly from an introductory overview to the present layout, and finally to the proposed future changes. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct and clear function in structuring the report. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'At present', and 'Under the proposed redevelopment' are managed skilfully to show relationships between the features without feeling mechanical or obtrusive. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a seamless and natural flow of information.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and phrases such as 'substantial expansion', 'adjacent to', and 'make way for' are used with good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are precise, accurately describing spatial configurations and structural alterations. Only occasional minor inaccuracies could separate this from a flawless lexical performance, but overall the vocabulary is sophisticated enough to allow for precise reporting with minimal effort for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

A wide range of complex sentence structures is used effectively throughout the text, including participial phrases and multi-clause sentences. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, demonstrating excellent control over verb forms, tenses, prepositions within grammatical patterns, and punctuation. Present tenses are handled accurately when describing the current layout, and future-oriented structures ('is set to undergo', 'will be constructed') are deployed with precision. The grammar never impedes communication and reflects a very high level of structural command.

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