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 picture below portrays that how will the airport look after the redevelopment process which will start from next year.

Overall, the airport will undergo an immense expansion and modernization. The number of gates are going to increase significantly alongside the introduction of sky train. Many new amenities are also planned to be introduced, however some facilities are going to remain same like security and customs.

At present the departure area includes a cafe and a check-in. But in the new plan a bag drop place is also the part of it. After the security and passport control there is just an empty walking area, which is going to have shops next year. The biggest change is the the number of gates which substantially increased by a number of ten, to travel to your required gate you can now access the sky train.

Upon your arrival you pass the passport control and customs and you just go. But after the development you will have the amenities like a cafe , atm and the most essential part of leaving towards your destination which is the traveling is going to become much easier because car hire service will also be introduced.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the airport redevelopment, including the expansion of gates, the addition of the sky train, and new amenities. You also correctly noted which areas remain unchanged. However, the response lacks a clear, data-driven comparison. For instance, you mention the number of gates increased by ten, but you do not clearly contrast the 'before' and 'after' figures (e.g., from 8 to 18). To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a more precise overview of the spatial changes and use the provided data more effectively to support your descriptions rather than relying on general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to specific details of the departure and arrival areas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'At present' and 'After the development', to guide the reader through the timeline. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'you just go' in the final paragraph, which lacks clarity. The use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'modernization', and 'amenities'. There are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'bag drop place' (better as 'bag drop area') and 'the most essential part of leaving' (which is slightly wordy and unnatural). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more specific collocations related to map description, such as 'situated in the north' or 'replaced by'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are recurring grammatical errors. For example, 'The number of gates are going to increase' should be 'is going to increase' (subject-verb agreement). There is also a redundant article in 'the the number of gates'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage. Additionally, try to vary your sentence structure further by using more complex subordinate clauses to describe the changes.

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

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