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 presented picture illustrates a series of changes and developments which will occur in Southwest Airport after it will be renovated. As far for now, we can see that the walk-way area is smaller and in order to accomodate more people and for people's convenience, a sky train will be introduced. According to the planned developed map, there is a huge addition of sky train area and the walk way area will be demolished. Also, more gates will be introduced in order to accomodate more people.
If we talk about the security passport control, Shops will be introduced so that the inviduals can get refreshed while waiting in the cue. If we pass the security passport control, there used to be check in section along with a cafe nearby but we will introduce the bag drop and the cafe will be replaced with the check in area.
On the other hand, there used to be nothing near the passport control customs so we will utilize that area and will shift the cafe here along with the introduction of an ATM as well. This will be more convenient for the people who want to withdraw money. Also, there will be a car hire place as well near the arrivals so that the people can travel easily after receiving their relatives or friends.
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 sky train, new gates, and the relocation of facilities. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a Band 7 or higher. The description is somewhat fragmented, and the perspective is inconsistent; the student uses 'we will introduce', which is inappropriate for an objective report on a map. To improve, focus on describing the changes objectively and include a clear introductory summary that highlights the overall transformation of the airport layout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow between ideas is sometimes weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'also' and 'if we talk about'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when describing the movement of facilities like the cafe and check-in area. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between the 'now' and 'next year' states is clearly signposted to help the reader follow the progression of the redevelopment.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are some spelling errors, such as 'accomodate' (accommodate), 'inviduals' (individuals), and 'cue' (queue). The phrasing is often informal or imprecise, such as 'get refreshed' or 'there used to be nothing'. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more academic collocations related to map descriptions, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'demolished', or 'integrated', and ensure accurate spelling of common terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'As far for now' (As for now), 'after it will be renovated' (after it is renovated), and 'the walk way area' (the walkway area). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences lacking necessary commas or having incorrect capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing future plans.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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