Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24
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 below illustrate the site of Southwest airport in the present day and how it will look after renovation in coming year. Overall, they increased the number of gates and constructed a sky train for an easy access. Multiple shops, cafes and an ATM are new
additions.
Previously, there were only 8 gates in the airport but after the redevelopment the number of gates are going to be 18. A walkway is the only pass to reach the gates but after development a sky train is being introduced for an easy access. The place that all gates are situated is also expanded into a Y-shaped path.
Multiple cafes and shops were being introduced. A new baggage drop counter and an check-in were set up on the departures side. The Arrivals side was empty before but after the renovation a new cafe an ATM and a car hire stall are about to begin.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 addition of the sky train, and the new facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the scale of change. While the key features are identified, the comparison between the 'present' and 'future' states could be more precise. For instance, the description of the Y-shaped path is a good observation, but the overall summary could be more effectively integrated to highlight the transformation of the airport's layout. The response addresses all parts of the task, but the development of ideas is slightly limited, keeping it at a solid level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion-like summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the airport. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'Previously', 'but after the redevelopment', 'after the renovation'). The flow between sentences is generally clear, but the transition between the description of the gates and the new facilities could be smoother. The referencing is clear, and the overall progression of information is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 6.5 or 7.0 level of organization.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes clearly. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, such as 'redevelopment', 'renovation', and 'introduced'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'an check-in' (should be 'a check-in') and 'easy access' (which is slightly repetitive). To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more varied and precise terminology related to maps and architectural changes, such as 'expanded', 'converted', or 'integrated'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'the number of gates are going to be' (subject-verb agreement error: 'is'), 'an check-in' (article error), and 'a new cafe an ATM' (missing conjunction). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates an attempt to use future forms and passive voice, which is positive, but better control over articles and subject-verb agreement is needed to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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