Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-06

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 given map compares the plan of a university's sport centre in the past and how it will look after construction.

Overall, in the past the sport centre was in the square shape but after merged the outdoor courts, sport center converted into rectangular shape.

To begin with, reception was located the south direction and it remained unchanged in the new plan. Right side of the entrence a cafe will be build in the future, on the other hand left side a shop of sports equipments will constructed. Moreover, in the south east corner and the south west corner chaning rooms will be build. Next to the south east changing room a sports hall and dancing studios also will be there. Right side of the changing room dance studios from a coridor dancing studios will be located.

In addition, in the past plan, in the center of the sports centre a swimming pool, seating area, changing room and a gym was located which will be there in the future plan but the area of the gym will be increased. Next to the changing room of the south west corner, liesure pool will be constructed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main transformation: the centre expands over the former outdoor courts, and you note that the reception and central facilities remain while the gym grows. These are relevant features and give the response a clear overall direction. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear. The café and sports shop are described as being on either side of the entrance, whereas the plan places them in the south-east and south-west extensions. You also say the sports hall is next to the south-east changing room; it is east of the seating, with the café and changing room farther south. The overview could more clearly summarise the major additions, including the leisure pool, sports hall and two dance studios. More precise reporting of these features would make the coverage fuller.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overall statement and paragraphs describing the southern and central areas. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with” and “In addition” help signal movement between features. However, progression is not always easy to follow because several locations are packed into long sentences, and references such as “right side” and “left side” are unclear without a consistent viewpoint. The sentence about the dance studios and corridor is particularly difficult to interpret, while “Next to the south east changing room” does not clearly establish the sports hall’s position. Grouping the plan by west, centre and east, and using explicit compass directions, would make the comparisons more coherent and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing a plan, including “square shape,” “rectangular shape,” “remained unchanged,” “area … will be increased” and “corner.” These choices help communicate the broad changes. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, including “entrence,” “chaning,” “liesure” and “dancing studios.” Some expressions are also unnatural or vague, such as “merged the outdoor courts,” “a shop of sports equipments” and “from a coridor.” Use standard facility names and concise location language, for example “sports shop,” “dance studios” and “along the eastern wall.” More accurate spelling and natural collocations would make the description clearer and more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the response generally communicates the broad comparison between the existing and proposed layouts. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “after merged the outdoor courts” needs a passive or noun phrase construction, while “a cafe will be build” should use “will be built.” In “a swimming pool, seating area, changing room and a gym was located,” the plural list requires a plural verb, and the article use is inconsistent. Some clauses also lack clear grammatical links, as in “Right side of the changing room dance studios from a coridor dancing studios will be located.” Practise accurate passive forms and shorter, complete location sentences.

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