Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The image compares the site of an airport today and what it will look like after reconstruction next year.

Overall, significant changes will be made during the redevelopment including expansion of certain places, change in location of some buildings and introduction of new shops.

The plan for next year shows a bigger structure that comprises a change from the walkway to sky train which will have 18 gates instead of the 8 gates in the current year. Departure and arrival doorways will be doubled for better movement for individuals. With the departure doors leading to cafe and check-in like the current year with just a change in there location and a bag drop which will be added after reconstruction.

Entering the arrivals doorway, there will be an ATM, a second cafe and a car hire which was are currently not available currently. There will also be an opening of a shop north of the security passport control in the new development.Despite the changes, the security passport control and the passport control customs remains the same for both years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, including the expansion of the walkway into a sky train and the addition of new facilities. You have successfully identified the key changes, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new amenities like the bag drop and car hire. However, the description of the layout is slightly confusing in places, particularly regarding the movement flow. To reach a higher band, ensure that the spatial relationships (e.g., north, south, east, west) are described more precisely to help the reader visualize the changes clearly. Overall, the main features are adequately highlighted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, a body paragraph focusing on the main structure, and another on the new facilities. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. For example, the phrase 'With the departure doors leading to...' is a bit clunky. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the current year') is consistent throughout will help improve the flow and coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'expansion', and 'amenities'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'which was are currently not available currently', which is repetitive and grammatically awkward. Additionally, some terms are used in a slightly unnatural way, such as 'doorways' instead of 'entrances' or 'exits'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing to demonstrate a more sophisticated control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there location' (should be 'their location') and 'which was are currently not available currently'. These errors, while not impeding communication, occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses. Proofreading for minor slips in articles and prepositions would also help in achieving greater accuracy in your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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