Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-03
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 illustrates the architecture of Southwest airport which is currently existing and presenting map of airport after restructuring in the upcoming year.
Overall, departure and arrival is remain same location with the minimal expand of area whereas, custom, passport control is before arrival gate and security, passport control on the way of departer are showing no changes in the design. People are passing through the four stages to reach to departure other side arrival to gates.
On the other hand some minor changes had been done near to departure cafe location changed with check-in.
In the new design of the airport major changes are appearing near to departure, arrival and gates areas where car hire area allocated as well one more cafe added to the new structure on the way of custom after arrival. Also bag drop, ATM new facilities added to the airport. Along with that gates almost increased with double numbers also sky train added near to gates in the new design which was walkway in the older airport.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides an overview of the changes, but it struggles to clearly communicate the specific spatial transformations. While you mention the addition of a sky train and new facilities, the description of the layout is often confusing. For instance, the phrase 'departure and arrival is remain same location' is imprecise, and the explanation of the passenger flow is difficult to follow. To improve, you should focus on grouping features logically (e.g., transport, facilities, and gates) and ensure that comparisons between the 'now' and 'next year' plans are explicit and accurate. The main features are identified, but the lack of clarity in describing the spatial relationships limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Also', which do not always connect ideas smoothly. Some sentences are disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of changes. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and use a wider variety of linking words to show relationships between the different areas of the airport. Referencing needs to be more precise to avoid ambiguity.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for describing maps and diagrams. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'architecture of Southwest airport' (which should be 'layout') and 'minimal expand of area' (which should be 'minimal expansion'). You attempt to use specific terms like 'custom' (should be 'customs') and 'passport control', but the overall range is limited. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'extended', 'constructed', and 'demolished', rather than relying on general verbs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'departure and arrival is remain same location' (subject-verb agreement and tense issues) and 'gates almost increased with double numbers' (awkward phrasing). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Practising the construction of complex sentences—such as using relative clauses or passive voice to describe changes—will help improve your grammatical range.
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