Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

SOUTHWEST AIRPORT

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagram demonstrates the plan of an airport site how it will look after the redevelopment.

Overall, it is notable that the site of an airport undergone the significant changes with number of gates increased to the northern site of the plan and walkway is replaced with sky train. Additionally,security and passport control customs remain unchanged. In contrast new facilities like ATM, car hire, bag drop and shops were added. while depatures and arrivals remain unchanged and the cafe from right corner to the left corner

Looking, at the present plan of airport where total number of 8 gates for the passengers and under security passport control check-in at the left cornerand cfe at the right upper corner of the depature. However, the departurres and arrivals remain relatively unchanged.

Conversely, after the development plan the number of gates incresed from eight to eighteen with walkway replaced with the sky train. Moreover new facilities has been added shops and bag drop. Whereas cafe and check-in change their position from former to right corner to later left corner. In addition,cafe is introduce in the arrivals area at the top right corner new aminities like ATM and car hire. Depatures and arrivals remain unchange

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main transformation: the gates increase from eight to eighteen, the walkway is replaced by a sky train, and new facilities such as shops, bag drop, an ATM and car hire are introduced. You also note that security and passport control remain, giving the response a relevant overview and coverage of both plans. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the café’s movement is described inconsistently, and “the cafe from right corner to the left corner” does not specify which area or plan clearly. The statement that departures and arrivals remain unchanged is too broad, since facilities within both areas are rearranged and additions are made. More precise comparisons of the check-in, café and arrivals changes would make the account more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and descriptions of the current and future layouts. This helps the reader distinguish the two stages. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven, and several ideas are repeated, particularly that departures and arrivals remain unchanged and that the gates increase. Linking words such as “However,” “Conversely,” and “Moreover” are used, but some do not express the relationship clearly; for example, “However” introduces details that do not contrast with the preceding point. The final paragraph also combines several changes in a crowded sequence. Grouping information by area or by major change, and using clearer references to each plan, would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “gates,” “walkway,” “sky train,” “passport control,” “bag drop,” and “car hire,” which allows you to report several key features. There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “redevelopment” and “facilities.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “depatures,” “incresed,” “cfe,” and “aminities.” Some phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “northern site of the plan” and “the cafe from right corner to the left corner,” making the intended locations difficult to follow. Build a more accurate range of location and change expressions, and check spelling carefully, especially for repeated task vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with linking clauses, and the main message is generally recoverable. However, control is inconsistent, particularly in longer constructions. The opening phrase “the plan of an airport site how it will look” is missing a grammatical link, while “the site of an airport undergone” lacks an auxiliary verb. There are also problems with articles and agreement in “with number of gates increased” and “new facilities has been added.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation need attention: the overview runs several ideas together, and commas are misplaced in phrases such as “Looking, at the present plan.” Use complete, clearly punctuated sentences and check verb forms and agreement when describing changes.

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