Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-22
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 given diagram illustrates a blueprint of the Southwest Airport site currently and how it would look in the future after further development next year.
Overall, it is clearly evident from the diagram that major changes have been made in terms of area expansion as well as convenience for the public. Interestingly the airport would offer sky train and car hire whereas it tends to remove the walkway which is available now.
By observing closely, it can be perceived that the four things which will remain untampered during development are the areas of departures, arrivals, security passport control and passport control customs. Except for the fact that the departures as well as arrivals will have multiple gates rather than one.
Now apart from that, we can also notice increase in the gates, which is more 10 gates have been added. Consequently, increasing the travel path, assessing the need for a sky train in terms of transportation. On the other hand, along with check-in, a bag drop area is to be built. The cafe is moved, and along the line an ATM and a car hire will be opened
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 expansion of gates and the addition of new facilities like the sky train and bag drop area. However, the description of the layout is somewhat confusing. For instance, stating that 'departures, arrivals, security passport control and passport control customs' remain 'untampered' is inaccurate, as the plans show significant modifications to these areas, such as the addition of multiple gates. The overview is present but could be more precise in highlighting the most significant changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that the data is interpreted with greater accuracy and that the comparison between the 'now' and 'future' states is more clearly delineated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is generally coherent, with a clear introduction and a logical progression from general observations to specific details. Paragraphing is used, though the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'consequently' and 'on the other hand', but some are used mechanically or slightly inaccurately, such as 'now apart from that'. The referencing of specific areas is sometimes vague, which occasionally makes it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes described. Improving the variety and precision of linking words would enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the airport features effectively. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'untampered' and 'blueprint', though 'untampered' is not the most natural choice in this context. Some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'along the line an ATM and a car hire will be opened'. While the range is sufficient to convey the main points, there is a lack of precision in describing the spatial layout and the nature of the changes. Expanding the range of collocations related to map description would help improve the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'which is more 10 gates have been added' and 'the four things which will remain untampered'. These errors do not generally impede communication, but they are noticeable. The use of punctuation is generally acceptable, but some sentence constructions are clunky, which affects the overall fluency. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences would also be beneficial for achieving a higher band score.
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.