Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-09
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 plan below illustrates the site of a Southwest airport now and how it look after redevelopment next year.
Overall, today's airport is providing less facilities the airport will undergo significant expansion primarily through the addition of y shaped terminal wing and a variety of new passengers terminal gate.
In the departure area, single check in will be replaced by modernised double check in and a addition of big drop. The location of cafe is also changed now it is the right upper corner under the security passport control but after development cafe will be on the left lower corner. Moreover, walkaway area will be replaced by sky train service which is more convenient. The number of terminal gates is increased from 8 to 18.
However, automated teller machine will be introducing for changing the currency which is absent in today's airport. Although, security and passport control customes will remain in their in original position. On the arrivals car hire will be introduced for parking. Beyond security, a major retail space for shops will be introduced.
In conclusion, after development the airport will be more convenient for visitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the terminal expansion, the addition of the sky train, and the increase in gates. However, the overview is slightly weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. While the key features are identified, some descriptions are imprecise, such as 'y shaped terminal wing' and 'big drop'. The comparison between the current and future states is generally clear, but the report would benefit from a more structured approach to grouping the changes (e.g., landside vs. airside) to ensure all parts of the task are fully developed and highlighted.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the general overview to specific details. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For instance, the transition between the departure area and the security section feels abrupt. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, and the paragraphing could be more effectively used to separate distinct areas of the airport to improve the overall logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. There are several instances of unnatural word choices or incorrect collocations, such as 'big drop' (likely referring to a drop-off zone) and 'customes' (spelling error for customs). The phrase 'providing less facilities' is grammatically awkward and imprecise. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'redevelopment' and 'terminal gates', the overall lexical control is limited, and some terms are used incorrectly, which occasionally impedes the clarity of the description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. Issues include missing articles ('the' airport, 'a' y-shaped), incorrect verb tenses ('will be introducing' instead of 'will be introduced'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('the number of terminal gates is increased'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the lack of commas in complex sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band, as the control over complex structures is not yet consistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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