Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16
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 provided plans below show the site of Southwest Airport and its projected appearance after redevelopment in coming year.
Overall, it is clear that the airport aims to enhance capacity and passengers convenience.
Currently, the airport has simple structure. There are eight gates, numbered 1-8 are walkway and the left side leading with them. The check-in located on the left side of the departure hall and the cafe is located at the right corner of the hall.
After development there will be significant changes, the gate will be increased on the numbers of 18 and a sky train will be added in middle to transport passengers, also behind the gate number 1 there will be shops. The departure control moved to the right corner, also the places of the check-in,the bag drop centre will be added. Furthermore, the cafe will be upgraded for 2 different location, one will be the left corner behind the bag drop, and another one will located the right corner of arrivals hall. Additionally, car hire and an ATM will located the right side of the arrivals hall.
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, including the increase in gates, the addition of a sky train, and the relocation of facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the scale of change. While you mention the aim to enhance capacity, the summary could be more precise by highlighting the most significant transformations, such as the shift from a simple layout to a more complex, multi-functional terminal. The report is accurate in its identification of the key changes, but the lack of comparative language (e.g., 'whereas', 'in contrast') limits the depth of the analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future state. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and basic. Phrases like 'After development' and 'Furthermore' are used, but the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. For example, the transition between the description of the gates and the relocation of the departure control could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'the gate will be increased on the numbers of 18', which is grammatically awkward and impacts the clarity of the information presented.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information about the airport layout. You use topic-specific terms like 'departure hall', 'bag drop centre', and 'arrivals hall'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'the gate will be increased on the numbers of 18' and 'the cafe will be upgraded for 2 different location'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited range of vocabulary and a lack of precision in describing spatial changes and facility upgrades.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and prepositions, such as 'the check-in located on the left' (missing 'is'), 'will located the right side' (missing 'be'), and 'the gate will be increased on the numbers of 18'. These errors are noticeable and occur throughout the text. While the meaning remains clear, the lack of control over basic sentence construction and the persistent omission of auxiliary verbs prevent the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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