Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 given map illustrates the site of an airport at present and how it will look after redevelopment next year.

Overall it is apparent from the chart that, the southwest airport underwent in significant changes by the next year many more facilities are added in future plan of airport area of airport will be expand.

looking at the details of present airport infrastructure, arrival gate are located in the bottom of the map while departure gate is located in the left side after crossing the gate of departure check in counter is located in north-west direction opposite to the check in counter there is a cafe next to cake security and passport control office is located. on the right hand side passport control customs office is situated.there after walkway started and there are total 8 gates in present structure of airport.

looking at the details of redevelopment plan of the southwest airport, arrival and departure gate is located as similar to the present plan regardless the cafe will be shifted to the bottom the empty space in departure gate next to the cafe bag dropping area will be establish and opposite to it check in counter will built security and passport control office remain same in redevelopment plan some shops are also build in north direction walkway area increased and gates will be increased by 10. The atm, cafe, car hire area also located in arrival gate .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the airport plans and made relevant comparisons between the present and future layouts. You covered the key changes, such as the relocation of the cafe, the addition of the bag drop area, and the expansion of the gates. However, the response lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that the airport will undergo significant changes, you could improve by grouping these changes more logically (e.g., structural expansion vs. facility relocation). The description is a bit repetitive in places, and some details, such as the exact location of the ATM and car hire, could be integrated more smoothly into the overall summary of the redevelopment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the present to the future. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'looking at the details of' are repeated, and there is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas within sentences. Some sentences are run-on, such as 'there after walkway started and there are total 8 gates in present structure of airport,' which makes the flow feel disjointed. Improving the use of transition signals (e.g., 'consequently,' 'in contrast,' 'furthermore') would significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the locations and changes clearly. You use some relevant terminology like 'infrastructure,' 'redevelopment,' and 'check-in counter.' However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'cake' instead of 'cafe' and 'will be establish' instead of 'will be established.' The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptive verbs. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to maps and spatial descriptions, such as 'situated in the vicinity of,' 'undergo a transformation,' or 'extended significantly.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempts at complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice construction, such as 'check in counter will built' (should be 'will be built') and 'gates will be increased by 10' (should be 'increased to 10'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several missing capital letters at the start of sentences and missing commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the overall accuracy score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your score.

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