Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
The two plans illustrate the current layout of the southwest airport and the proposed changes that are expected to take place in a year.
Overall, it is clear that the airport is set to undergo significant changes, with several new facilities such as ATM, car hire, Bag drop,
the SkyTrain and an extension of 10 more gates. Walkway is going to be replaced by the SkyTrain completely.
Currently, on the north side of the airport, there are 8 terminal gates, but after one year, it is expected to add 10 more gates. And to reach at each terminal, the walkway is supposed to be changed into the SkyTrain. Within the airport airport there are two major blocks: departure and arrival. However, in the departure side, check-in and the cafe remain common, but the bag drop section has been added. Above security and passport control, new shops are supposed to be implemented.
On the arrivals side, there is no single provision for people, although in the next year, 3 new provisions are expected to be constructed, which include an ATM, car hire and a cafe. Moreover, two entrances are being built for each block; now there is only one entrance available.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the airport redevelopment, including the gate expansion, the transition from a walkway to a SkyTrain, and the addition of new facilities. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant changes. However, the description of the layout is slightly confusing in places, particularly when describing the 'departure' and 'arrival' sides, as the terminology used does not perfectly align with the visual data provided. While the main features are identified, the comparison could be more precise by grouping the changes more logically (e.g., infrastructure vs. passenger facilities) to improve the clarity of the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from general changes to specific details. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Currently', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. However, there are some instances where the referencing is slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'side' and 'block'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, though the internal structure of the body paragraphs could be tightened for better flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'redevelopment', 'significant changes', and 'implemented' used correctly. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'provisions' to describe facilities like an ATM or car hire, which is not the most natural collocation in this context. The student attempts to use a variety of descriptive language, but some phrasing remains slightly simplistic. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without difficulty, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'to reach at each terminal' (should be 'to reach each terminal') and 'Within the airport airport' (repetition). Punctuation is generally handled well, but there are occasional awkward phrasings that slightly disrupt the flow. The majority of the sentences are clear, and the errors do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on reducing minor errors and increasing the variety of complex structures used to describe the changes.
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.