Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13
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 maps show the developments that took place in SOUTHWEST AIRPORT in one year.
Overall, the layout underwent significant modernization , with several new facilities replacing older structures and added new things.
Before the development, there are rectangular shape in which walkway are situated . Cafes , check-in are present in the departure side . Security , Passport control , Customs are remains unchanged after development.
On the other hand, Bag group will also add in the western side of the departures and cafe , check-in will also remains stable . Moreover, Shops will aslo add below the Y shape . Sky train will add in the Y shape . Additionaly,Car hire, Atm will also situate in the arrivals. There will 1-18 gates while now 1-8 gates are present .
To conclude with , many develpoment will occur in next year. some things will add and some will remains unchange .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the expansion of gates and the addition of new facilities like the sky train and shops. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that the layout underwent modernization, the specific comparisons between the 'now' and 'next year' stages could be more precise. For example, the mention of '1-18 gates' vs '1-8 gates' is a good detail, but the overall summary lacks a cohesive synthesis of the changes. To improve, focus on grouping features logically (e.g., departures vs. arrivals) rather than listing them in a way that feels like a disjointed inventory.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'will also add' and 'will remain'. The transition between the 'before' and 'after' states is somewhat abrupt. Some sentences, such as 'Before the development, there are rectangular shape in which walkway are situated', lack logical flow and clear referencing. Improving the variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to previously mentioned nouns would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple verbs like 'add', 'remain', and 'situate'. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'aslo', 'develpoment', and 'Additionaly'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary related to maps and changes, such as 'expand', 'relocate', 'incorporate', 'transform', or 'remain unchanged'. The current range is limited, which restricts your ability to describe the spatial changes with the necessary precision required for an Academic Task 1 response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'there are rectangular shape' should be 'there was a rectangular shape', and 'walkway are situated' should be 'walkways were situated'. There is also inconsistent tense usage, as you mix present and future forms when describing the 'before' and 'after' states. Subject-verb agreement errors, such as 'cafe, check-in will also remains stable', are common. Focusing on consistent tense usage and correcting basic subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy significantly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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