Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25

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 represent the site of an airport now and how it will look after the redevelopment next year.

However, the airport have 8 gates now, but after redevelopment, the airport will have 18 gates after expanding the area of the airport.

Now, we have check-in and cafeteria in the section of security and passport control. After constructing a new airport, we will have a bag drop area as well as both of them. On the other side, there is passport control and customs. In this side, we don't have anything yet. However, after building a new airport and a better version of this airport, there will be an ATM, one more cafe area, and an area which would specifically be built for those people who want to hire a car after departing from the airport.

So, there would be a facility for car hiring services. Now, in the airport, if someone wants to go from one gate to another, we go by foot. But in the next year, people will not have to go by foot because there will be a sky train which will make things easier for people.

To summarize, after redeveloping, the airport will get bigger and offer more facilities that people will enjoy

AI examiner evaluation

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 new facilities, and the introduction of the sky train. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph that synthesizes the most significant changes. The description is somewhat fragmented and relies on a narrative style ('we have', 'if someone wants to') rather than an objective, analytical report style suitable for Academic Task 1. While the key information is present, the lack of a formal structure and the inclusion of subjective commentary limit the effectiveness of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'However' and 'Now'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'both of them' or 'this side', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout of the airport. Paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related information, leading to a disjointed reading experience. Improved use of linking phrases and clearer spatial references would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. The student uses basic terms like 'get bigger', 'better version', and 'things easier', which are too informal for an academic report. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'redevelopment', 'passport control', and 'departing', but the range remains limited. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoiding conversational phrasing to better suit the formal requirements of the task.

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 impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the airport have') and awkward phrasing ('in this side', 'after constructing a new airport, we will have'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often repetitive and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher score.

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.