Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-27
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 7.5)
The diagrams illustrate how the proposed redevelopment plan will change the outlook of Southwest Airport next year.
Overall, after the development, the airport is expected to get enlarged with addition of more gates, facilities and services for passengers.
Currently, the airport occupies less area and consists of just 8 boarding gates with a walkway extending from gate 1 to 3. Each of departures and arrivals consist of a single point of entry. Although the area for departure consists of a cafe and a check-in counter, arrivals does not have any such services. Furthermore, walking past the departures is the area for security and passport control and through that the gates are reached. On the other hand, while there is a passport control in arrivals, a customs replaces the security area.
After the plan will undergo, the airport is expected to have an addition of 10 more gates, making it wider than before. A sky train is proposed to replace the walkway. Moreover, the entry gates to both arrivals and departures are planned to be widened. In comparison to the previous arrangement in arrivals, the plan is expected to add three services: car hire, ATM and a cafe. Finally, the departure region will have an addition of bag drop counter and the previous cafe and check-in will be relocated.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively covers the requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview and successfully highlighted the main changes, such as the addition of gates, the sky train, and the new passenger services. The comparison between the current and future layout is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, describing the 'walkway' as 'extending from gate 1 to 3' is good, but ensure the reader can clearly visualize the transition to the 'sky train'. Overall, you have selected and reported the main features accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the current state from the future plan. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a report of this nature. To improve, try to vary the sentence starters further to enhance the flow between the descriptions of the two maps.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'relocated', and 'proposed'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'the airport is expected to get enlarged', where 'expand' would be more natural. Additionally, 'After the plan will undergo' is an awkward collocation; 'Once the plan is implemented' would be more precise. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, but incorporating more sophisticated collocations related to urban planning or infrastructure would elevate the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the majority of your sentences are clear, there are occasional grammatical slips, such as 'Each of departures and arrivals consist of a single point of entry' (should be 'consists') and 'After the plan will undergo' (incorrect tense/verb choice). Punctuation is generally accurate, and your meaning is never obscured by these errors. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and using more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions to describe the planned changes.
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