Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-13

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 planned shown to us is about a airport after redevelopment and before the development. This development is for the next year and the major changes in it are the increase in the number of gates for passinger and also addition of sky train in it. The airport now didn't have any atm in it which is also added in new peoject along with a spot for hire cars.

First of all the main development that is don in the airport for upcaming year is that old airport have only 8 gates for walkway but in new they have increased 18 more over the intrance gates and departure gates are also increased in number. Another development is that the old airport contain only a cheak-in point and a cafe in it but in the project it have gone in big changes like a bag drop for departure people is added and the cafe is shifted near the entrance.

In addition to this,the project also have few shops for passingers in it. It also contain a ATM in it for airport and also a cafe for the arriving people as well along with a hire cars point in it more over this plan also contain a sky tain in it for people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall changes: the gate capacity expands, a sky train is introduced, and new facilities such as shops, an ATM and car hire are added. You also mention changes to the café and check-in area, so the response addresses the main purpose of comparing the plans. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the new plan has 18 gates in total, not “18 more,” and the departure and arrival gates are not increased. The description of the café being “shifted near the entrance” is imprecise; the new plan shows one café in departures and another in arrivals. To strengthen the response, give a clearer overview of the terminal’s major spatial changes, including the Y-shaped concourse, and describe locations more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure, moving from an opening summary to details about the airport and then additional facilities. Linking phrases such as “First of all” and “In addition to this” help signal progression. However, the organisation is not consistently clear: the first body paragraph combines gate changes with check-in and café changes, while the final paragraph lists several additions without a clear spatial order. Some references, such as “it” and “this plan,” are also vague, making it harder to track which area is being described. Grouping information by terminal area or by major structural changes and added facilities would create a clearer progression. Use fewer formulaic transitions and connect each detail explicitly to its location.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “gates,” “bag drop,” “ATM,” “cafe,” and “hire cars,” which makes the main subject understandable. There is some attempt to describe change through phrases such as “added” and “shifted.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings reduce precision, including “passinger,” “peoject,” “upcaming,” and “spot for hire cars.” Phrases such as “18 more over the intrance gates” are also unclear and do not accurately express the total number of gates. Aim for precise location and change vocabulary, such as “the concourse is extended,” “a facility is relocated,” and “the terminal accommodates 18 gates.” Proofreading spelling and choosing natural collocations will improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sentence beginning “In addition to this,” and use some clauses to connect related information. Nevertheless, errors in sentence structure and basic grammar are frequent enough to make parts of the description difficult to follow. For example, “The planned shown to us is about a airport” has an incorrect noun phrase and article, while “the old airport contain” and “the project also have” show subject–verb agreement problems. Tense and number are also inconsistent in “they have increased 18 more.” Several sentences run together, with punctuation missing after “this” and at the end of the response. Practise accurate present-tense descriptions of the existing plan and future forms for the redevelopment, while checking articles, agreement and sentence boundaries.

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