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)

In these two map it relates the present and future development of an SOUTHWEST AIRPORT. In the present AIRPORT there is only facilities of cafe and walkway. And in the future they are adding different facilities such as ATM, Sky train, car hire, bag drop and with the similar cafe but in this they provide two. In the future AIRPORT they replaced the walkway by the Sky train and they also increased the number of gates from 8 to the 18.

To make the traveling of the travelers easier they are also providing the facility of car hire in which the passengers would allow to rent the car and reach there desire destination. And after reviewing both map we see some common things such as similar location of security passport control, passport control customs, departures and arrivals. And to develop the desire AIRPORT of map they are also extending and wide the area.

AI examiner evaluation

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, car hire, and the increase in gates. However, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. While the student identifies key additions, the description of the layout is somewhat disjointed. The response would benefit from a more structured approach, perhaps by grouping the changes into 'additions' and 'modifications' to provide a clearer picture of the transformation. Some details, such as the mention of 'two cafes', are slightly inaccurate based on the visual evidence, which suggests a more complex expansion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into two paragraphs, but the logical flow is hampered by awkward phrasing and limited use of cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, such as the jump from discussing facilities to the increase in gates. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of the description. To improve, the student should use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') to connect ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally functional but repetitive and lacks the precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'there is only facilities' and 'they are adding different facilities' are simplistic. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'reach there desire destination' (should be 'reach their desired destination') and 'extending and wide the area' (should be 'extending and widening the area'). To improve, the student should focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to map descriptions, such as 'expanded', 'replaced', 'relocated', and 'infrastructure'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('In these two map it relates'), article usage ('the facility of car hire'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple or contain errors in tense and word form, such as 'they are also extending and wide the area'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex sentence structures and the persistence of basic errors limit the score. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and correct pluralization 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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