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 two maps illustrate the changes that took place in airport now and after development..

Overall, it is clear that the area underwent significant development, with adding flyover on the top of building and adding more facilities like ATM and bag drops . However, the middle building will remain in its original position.

Now, coffee spot is located in the right side of the departure building, while car parking stood left side of the departure place. After development, coffee shop will replace in the arrivals side, whereas car parking will locate in the right side of arrivals building. In addition, fly-over will be construct in the top of airport building.

Turning to the south area, walkway is present now . However, after development, it will be removed. Meanwhile, many facilities will be add in the south side lie ATM, Sky train and car hiries. In contrast, the location of passport control customs willremained unchange.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, including the addition of the flyover and new facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the comparison between the 'now' and 'after' states could be more precise. For instance, the report mentions the coffee shop moving but does not clearly contrast the spatial reorganization with the static elements effectively. The summary is functional but lacks the depth required for a higher band, as it focuses on listing changes rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally awkward, such as the frequent use of 'However' and 'Meanwhile'. The transition between the description of the building and the south area is abrupt. While there is a logical progression from the general overview to specific areas, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is sometimes weak, making the flow feel slightly disjointed. Improved use of referencing and varied linking words would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'car hiries' (car hire), 'will be add' (will be added), and 'will replace in' (will be relocated to). The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptors, and there is a lack of sophisticated terminology related to map description or spatial changes. To improve, you should focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe architectural and locational changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with verb tense and passive voice construction, such as 'fly-over will be construct' instead of 'will be constructed' and 'passport control customs willremained unchange' instead of 'will remain unchanged'. While simple sentence structures are generally clear, attempts at more complex structures often result in errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods and commas. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and correct passive voice formation is necessary.

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

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