Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18

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 6.0)

The plans show the current layout of an airport and how it will change after the proposed development next year.

Overall, the airport management plans to introduce two additional gates for both departures and arrivals. The number of boarding gates will increase from eight to eighteen. The airport will add new services, including shops, bag drop, ATM, and car hire. The walkway will be replaced by a sky train.

Currently, the airport has eight gates, but in future, this number will increase by ten, bringing the total to eighteen. To reach boarding gates, passengers use a walkway that will be replaced by a sky train after redevelopment. Shops will be added between the security area and the gates. The security passport-control area and passport-control/customs areas will remain unchanged.

The check-in area will not be replaced; instead, a bag drop facility will be added. Beside the departure gate, a café will be added. On the other side, café and ATM services will be added. A car-hire facility will be introduced by committee. Both the departure and arrival gates are planned to be extended by two gates each.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main features of the airport redevelopment. You have clearly highlighted the expansion of the boarding gates and the introduction of new facilities like the sky train and various services. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the changes. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, stating 'a car-hire facility will be introduced by committee' is slightly unclear as the source image does not specify a committee. Additionally, ensure that the distinction between the current and future states is consistently maintained throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by theme. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Currently', 'in future', and 'instead', which help the flow. However, the transition between sentences could be more sophisticated. Some sentences feel slightly disjointed, and the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. To improve, try to link sentences more fluidly using a wider variety of linking words or referencing techniques to avoid repetitive sentence structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'proposed', and 'facility' correctly. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the necessary information clearly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler descriptive language. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to maps and diagrams, such as 'undergo a transformation', 'situated', 'adjacent to', or 'the layout is set to be modified'. The current vocabulary is functional but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that the message is communicated effectively. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'Beside the departure gate, a café will be added', where 'Beside' might be better expressed as 'Adjacent to'. While you use some complex structures, the range is somewhat restricted. To improve, try to incorporate more varied grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or relative clauses, to describe the changes more fluidly and with greater grammatical sophistication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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