Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-01

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 6.5)

The illustration gives information about the map of airport before and after refurbishment. Overall, there would be 18 gates in next year and the development of other places like ATM, car hire, bag drop would locate.

It is quite evident from the map there are 8 gates before redesign while the departures side have a resting point that is cafe. However, check-in side is also near this resting point. Furthermore, the walkway sides are at the left corner of North East side. Near arrivals side, there is a huge free space. There are also two more locations one for custom and other for security.

Meanwhile, we can observe many new locations in second map. There would be a slight difference in location of cafe and walkaway sides while a bag drop area will also locate here. However, they would introduce an ATM, another cafe, and car hire sides near the arrivals. While the security and custom office will remain at same locations. There will be shops near security office and just below the gates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the airport plans, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities. However, the description of the layout is somewhat confusing and lacks precision. For instance, referring to 'walkway sides' and 'check-in side' is vague, and the spatial relationships are not clearly articulated. While you identify the main changes, the report would benefit from a more structured comparison between the 'now' and 'next year' states, rather than listing features in a way that makes it difficult for the reader to visualise the transformation. To improve, focus on grouping features logically (e.g., passenger facilities vs. operational areas) and using more precise directional language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical approach. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Meanwhile', and 'However' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel forced. The referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, 'they would introduce' lacks a clear antecedent, and 'two more locations' is imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph has a clear central theme and that cohesive devices are used to create a smoother, more natural progression of information rather than just acting as signposts.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for describing maps and diagrams. Phrases like 'huge free space' and 'walkway sides' are imprecise. You rely on basic verbs like 'locate' and 'remain', which are used incorrectly in some contexts (e.g., 'bag drop area will also locate here'). To improve, incorporate more specific terminology related to airport infrastructure, such as 'terminal', 'concourse', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'integrated'. Focusing on collocations related to spatial changes will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. Issues include incorrect article usage ('the map of airport'), subject-verb agreement ('bag drop... will also locate'), and awkward phrasing ('the departures side have a resting point'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering the use of articles, ensuring subjects and verbs agree, and refining your use of prepositions to describe locations more accurately.

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