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 given diagrams demonstrate the current and predicted development of an airport in a year. Interestingly, area of the airport will be increased after it's development with modern design including vast amount of services.
Talking about current situation, there are two main entrances, one for the arrival and second for the departure. Moreover, there is a security passport control , cafe and a check-in point situated on the departure side. Passport control customs is marked on the arrival side, just besides the security passport control on the opposite side. There are mainly 8 walkaway gats for the travelers.
for the predicted structure, there will be some facilities added in the structure of airport such as bag drop, ATM machine, sky train as well as care hire point. Initially, there will be increase in number of walkaway gates from 8 to 18 for better services. Train will be provided for the travelers to reach at the runway.
Overall, After the development of the airport, there will be significant changes such as increase number of walkaway gates and some more facilities to the 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
You have successfully identified the main features of the airport plans, including the expansion of gates and the addition of new facilities. However, the response lacks a clear overview that synthesizes the information effectively. While you mention that the airport will be increased, you could improve by highlighting the most significant changes, such as the transformation of the terminal layout and the expansion of the gate capacity from 8 to 18. Some details, such as the specific locations of the new facilities, are slightly under-developed. To reach a higher band, ensure your summary captures the 'big picture' trends rather than just listing individual features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future state. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Initially', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the current layout and the future changes could be better linked to show the contrast more effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence to improve the overall structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the airport features, such as 'redevelopment', 'facilities', and 'runway'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'walkaway gats' (walkway gates) and 'care hire point' (car hire). Additionally, the phrase 'Talking about current situation' is slightly informal for an academic report. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to maps and diagrams, and ensure that your spelling is accurate, as errors like 'gats' and 'besides' (instead of 'beside') slightly detract from the professional tone of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'area of the airport will be increased after it's development' (its development) and 'increase number of walkaway gates' (an increased number). There are also issues with article usage and prepositions, such as 'reach at the runway' (reach the runway). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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