Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-21

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 below present the layout of a university's sports centre now, and how it will look like after rebuilt.

Overall, the outdoor courts are converted into further activities like leisure pool, sports hall, cafe, sports shop, dance studio, and changing room.

At present, in the north end a gym is located. The 25m pool of a sports centre is situated in the centre. After entering in a building the reception is allocated in front side, while changing room and seating are located in the west and east side respectively, followed by outdoor courts situated on both sides of the centre.

In the future, the gym will be extended more for more space. The east side outdoor courts will be converted into multiple facilities like sports hall, dance studio, cafe, and changing room.The west outdoor courts would be converted into a huge leisure room, a changing room, and a sports shop.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main change: the outdoor courts are replaced by indoor facilities, and you describe several present and planned features. However, some details are inaccurate or too general. The future plan adds a leisure pool, not a “huge leisure room,” and the gym extends eastward rather than simply being enlarged without direction. The central pool, reception, changing room and seating remain in place, but this important continuity is not reported. The south-west and south-east additions are also not clearly located. The response is 143 words, below the 150-word minimum; the eight words copied from the task prompt are excluded. Add a fuller overview and precise comparisons of what stays, moves or is added.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, useful structure: an overview is followed by a description of the current layout and then the future plan. This helps the reader distinguish the two stages, and phrases such as “At present” and “In the future” provide some signposting. However, progression within the descriptions is limited, and the future facilities are mostly listed rather than organised by location. The sentence beginning “After entering in a building” is unclear, while “The east side outdoor courts” groups several additions without explaining their positions. Improve cohesion by describing the plan systematically from the centre outwards or by comparing each side, and use clear references to the original features.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing plans, including “located,” “situated,” “converted,” and “extended,” and the reader can generally understand the facilities being discussed. However, the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural. “Huge leisure room” misnames the leisure pool, while “further activities” is vague for the new facilities. Repetition of “located” and “converted” also makes the description less flexible. Aim for accurate plan vocabulary and collocations, such as “is replaced by,” “is added to the eastern side,” and “remains in its original position.” Check spelling and standard forms, including “café,” and use facility names exactly as shown.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, and present and future forms help distinguish the two plans. Nevertheless, errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward. In the opening, “how it will look like after rebuilt” has an incorrect construction and verb form; use “how it will look after redevelopment.” “After entering in a building” is also grammatically unclear, and “in the west and east side” needs a plural construction such as “on the west and east sides.” There is also a missing space after the full stop in “room.The.” Practise accurate articles, prepositions and verb forms, and keep longer sentences controlled with clear clause structure.

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

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