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 plans illustrate the redevelopment of the airport site with the present and future development plans.

Overall, the size of the airport has expanded more, while some areas have been converted for different uses.

In the present plan, the walkways on the north side will be extended in new construction and converted into a modern sky train track, along with chamfer blocks on both the east and west sides. Furthermore, the empty room with security passport control will be converted into shops. The passport control room and customs room will remain the same.

Moreover, there is only one door for the departure and arrival rooms in current plan which is changed into addition of more access gates in new plan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While you have identified some key features, such as the sky train and the conversion of the passport control area, the description is quite brief. You have missed several significant details from the diagrams, such as the addition of new check-in desks and the relocation of the baggage drop-off. To improve, you must ensure you cover all major changes shown in the visual data and provide a more comprehensive overview of the transformation to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a full understanding of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic transition words like 'Furthermore' and 'Moreover', but the connection between the current state and the future development could be smoother. The final paragraph is particularly abrupt and lacks a clear concluding thought or a more integrated comparison. To improve, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, perhaps by grouping changes by location or type of facility.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'redevelopment', 'converted', and 'extended', but there is repetition of basic verbs. Phrases like 'empty room' are imprecise; 'vacant area' or 'unused space' would be more appropriate in an academic context. Additionally, 'chamfer blocks' is a technical term that may not be used accurately here. To improve, focus on using more specific vocabulary related to maps and diagrams, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'demolished', to describe the changes more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that hinder the flow. For instance, 'the size of the airport has expanded more' is slightly awkward; 'the airport will be significantly expanded' is better. You also have issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in current plan' (should be 'in the current plan') and 'changed into addition of' (should be 'changed to include'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve your accuracy.

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

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