Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-20
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 plans illustrates the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.
Overall, the plan after development is more mordenized as compared to pro previous one. The significant difference is in the structure and availability.
The number of gates are increased from (1-8) to (1-18). The structure of gate is also changed from rectangular to Y-shaped. Previously, one entrance for departure and one is for arrivals, but these are increased their number after development and become two gates for departure and arrivals. Moreover, passport Security Passport Control and Passport Control customs are in the same location.
In contrast, walkaway service has been replaced by sky train service because it is convenient for elderly people who cannot walk through ladders. However, the location of cafe and check-in is changed from left corner to right corner and left to right in the same line. Nevertheless, new facilities are also available such as ATM (automatic Teller Machine), car hire and bag drop. ATM is introduced to exchange money in the same place.
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 increase in gates, the change in layout, and the introduction of new facilities. However, the description is sometimes imprecise. For example, stating 'one entrance for departure and one is for arrivals' is inaccurate based on the provided visual, which shows specific gate configurations. Additionally, the mention of 'ladders' is a misinterpretation of the visual, which depicts a walkway. While the main trends are identified, the analysis lacks the necessary precision and clarity required for a higher band score. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the airport layout. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Moreover', and 'However' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of information is generally clear, moving from the gates to the services and facilities. However, the referencing is occasionally confusing, such as the phrase 'left to right in the same line', which lacks sufficient context for the reader to follow the spatial changes accurately. Overall, the structure is coherent, but the flow could be improved with more sophisticated linking.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision needed for a higher score. There are some noticeable errors in word choice, such as 'mordenized' (spelling error) and 'ladders' (incorrect terminology for a walkway). Phrases like 'these are increased their number' are awkward and demonstrate limited control over collocation. While the student attempts to use specific terminology like 'passport control' and 'sky train', the overall range is somewhat restricted. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise descriptive language related to maps and diagrams, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'replaced'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'The plans illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'these are increased their number' (incorrect passive/active construction), and 'one is for arrivals' (unnecessary pronoun). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. While the meaning is usually conveyed, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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