Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The maps compare the layouts of an airport today and how it will look after reconstruction in the coming year.

Overall, the southwest airport is projected to undergo a significant renovation. Currently, the airport has a simple structure but it will add more modern facilities and amenities next year.

At present, the airport has eight gates and two walkways on the left side. A departure hall can be noticed on the left side where security and passport control areas are located, whereas on the right side, the arrival hall is situated which also consists passport control and customs area. Even though the arrival hall does not contain any facilities, the departure hall has a cafe on the right corner and a check-in counter on the left corner.

However, the number of gates is planned to increase to 18 after redevelopment. They will replace the walkways to sky trains and place in the middle and a Y-shaped complex structure will be built. Meanwhile, the security and passport control areas in the departure hall and the passport control and customs area in the arrival hall will remain in the original places. However, in the departure hall side, shops will be included in front of the security area. Additionally, the arrival hall is set to incorporate new facilities such as, a cafe, ATM booth and car hire service. On the other hand, the departure hall will include a bag drop area in the former check-in counter location, which will be relocated to the cafe area, while the cafe will be repositioned to the bottom-left corner of the hall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the airport redevelopment, including the expansion of gates and the addition of new facilities. The overview clearly highlights the transition from a simple layout to a more complex, modern structure. You have made effective comparisons between the current and future states, such as the replacement of walkways with sky trains and the relocation of specific services. The information is well-selected and supports the task requirements effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, the 'Y-shaped' description is a great detail, but ensure the relative positions of the new facilities are described with maximum clarity to avoid any ambiguity for the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that separate the current state from the future developments. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'even though', 'however', and 'on the other hand' to manage the flow of information effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related ideas. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is generally clear. To improve further, ensure that the transition between the description of the departure hall and the arrival hall is seamless, as some of the movement between these areas feels slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and processes, such as 'reconstruction', 'undergo a significant renovation', 'repositioned', and 'incorporate'. The language is generally precise and fits the context well. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choices are accurate. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to architectural changes or spatial planning, such as 'configuration', 'integrated', or 'augmented', to show a more flexible and fluent command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over tense—shifting from present for the current state to future for the redevelopment—is accurate. There are minor punctuation slips, such as the unnecessary comma after 'such as' in the final paragraph. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, aim for a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as using more passive voice constructions to describe the changes, which is common in formal report writing.

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