Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The blueprint illustrates before and after of Southwest Airport redevelopment next year to outline the changes being made for betterment.
The proposal suggests including facilities to make the airport more accessible by strategizing and dividing it into sections which allows control on crowd rush.
After redevelopment, airport will consist of bag drop, ATM, sky train, car hire to make commute more accessible for locals and foreigners. Number of gates are doubled to 2 in both departure and arrival. Shops are introduced in the new airport to keep travelers occupied when waiting to increase satisfaction. Walkway will be replaced by sky train allowing accessibility and comfort. Number of gates increased more than double from 8 to 18.
Redevelopment plan provides the southwest airport travelers accessibility, comfort, satisfaction, support for long hour stays if needed. In comparison, after development the airport will have a better building to cater the needs of people.
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 addition of the sky train and the increase in gate numbers. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You mention that the number of gates 'doubled to 2' and later state they increased 'from 8 to 18', which creates a factual contradiction that confuses the reader. Furthermore, the description of the layout is quite vague; you describe the airport as being divided into sections but do not clearly explain the spatial changes (e.g., the relocation of check-in or the expansion of the terminal building). To improve, ensure your data points are accurate and provide a more systematic comparison between the 'now' and 'next year' plans.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. You rely on simple sentence structures and lack a variety of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the description of facilities and the mention of gate numbers is abrupt. Using more sophisticated linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in contrast' would help improve the logical progression of your report. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which specific part of the airport you are describing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band score. You use phrases like 'make commute more accessible' and 'increase satisfaction,' which are somewhat repetitive and generic. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., 'redevelopment,' 'blueprint,' 'facilities'), but the range is limited. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and diagrams, such as 'extended,' 'relocated,' 'demolished,' or 'constructed,' rather than repeating 'make' or 'increase.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, you often omit necessary articles ('airport will consist of bag drop,' 'Number of gates are doubled'). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. While your meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the writing from being considered fluent and accurate. Focusing on article usage (a/an/the) and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing future changes will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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