Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23
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 following diagram illustrates the current infrastructure of Southwest Airport and after redevelopment in following year.
There is significant renovation in the building of Airport in one year. After comparison, the map shows there is extensive improvement in different
areas of Airport as the in the current map, there is no bag drop space which is added on next year and the number of gates also enhance for walkway purpose. Sky train and shops also are also added for the expansion of building for the facility of public.
According to the map before development, after entrance from departure gate, the cafe area was located on top right corner in the front of check-in area. Beside all of this, there were no shops after security passport control as well as the number of gates were also less in numbers and facility of sky train was also not added.
On the other hand, after development, there are prominent changes in the building as cafe is shifted to the left corner of departure area as well as bag drop area is additional space and check-in is also transferred onto right upper corner. Some other amendments include parking area, ATM and one more cafe at the arrival side. Shops and the number of gatea re also increased from 1 to 18 in this building which improvise the new building of Airport.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the addition of the sky train, the expansion of gates, and the relocation of facilities. However, the response lacks a clear overview paragraph, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. While you mention some changes, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a cohesive summary of the overall transformation. To improve, ensure you group information logically—for example, by contrasting the 'before' and 'after' states more clearly—and include a distinct overview sentence that highlights the most significant changes, such as the airport's overall expansion and modernization.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'as well as' and 'also'. The progression of ideas could be smoother; for instance, the transition between the 'before' and 'after' descriptions is a bit abrupt. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your sentences and paragraphs, such as 'consequently', 'in contrast', or 'furthermore', and ensure that your referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') clearly points back to the specific areas of the airport you are discussing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'infrastructure', 'renovation', 'prominent changes', and 'amendments'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'number of gates also enhance' (should be 'increase') and 'improvise the new building' (should be 'improve'). Additionally, some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'for walkway purpose'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for describing maps and diagrams, and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate. Expanding your range of synonyms will also help avoid the repetitive use of basic verbs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'in following year' (missing article), 'the number of gates also enhance' (subject-verb agreement), and 'gatea re' (spelling/typo). There are also issues with prepositions and articles throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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