Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19
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 map illustrates the site of an airport call the southwest airport in present time and how it will look after modification in next year.
Overall, new shops, cafes, ATM, sky train, car hire, bag drop will construct in next year. Moreover, new 18 gates will also develop.
To begin with, there are new departures and arrivals entry gates will construct. Moreover, check-in counter is replaced by bag drop. In addition, we can show that, new cafe develop in the arrivals section. Beside the cafe ATM will also build in same section. Furthermore, place for car hire will also available in future. Many shops are develop near to security in the departure section.
On the other hand, there will be major change happened on the northern part. Such as , walkway will be replaced by sky train route. Nowadays, there are only eight gates are available. However, there will 18 gates build next year. These gate will arrange in V shape.
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 addition of new facilities and the expansion of the gates. However, the overview is somewhat list-like and lacks a clear synthesis of the most significant changes. While the response identifies the key developments, the description of the layout changes could be more precise. For example, the mention of 'new departures and arrivals entry gates' is slightly vague regarding their location. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most striking transformations, such as the shift from a simple layout to a more complex, expanded terminal, rather than just listing individual items.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' is generally effective in signaling transitions. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'These gate will arrange in V shape', where the connection to the previous sentence could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point back to the intended subjects would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes clearly. Words like 'modification', 'redevelopment', and 'terminal' (implied) are appropriate. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'will construct' instead of 'will be constructed' and 'Many shops are develop' instead of 'Many shops will be developed'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for describing spatial changes and ensuring correct passive voice constructions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice constructions. For instance, 'new shops... will construct' should be 'will be constructed', and 'there will 18 gates build' should be 'there will be 18 gates built'. Additionally, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'in present time' instead of 'at present'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on consistent use of the future passive voice would significantly improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.