Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-27
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)
Task- 1
The layout provides information regarding the redevelopment of an airport at present and how it will look next year.
In general, southwest airport will be completely modernised in following year with excellent facilities which includes, apron sky train, etcetera.
To commence with, currently, aviation industry of southwest one check-in counter with a small cafe, meanwhile, in next year, bag drop and shops facilities will be introduced in part of security passport control. Subsequently, departure and arrivals will be unchanged next year. However, a great change will be observed with gates of apron, at present, there are 8 gates, but rather in forthcoming development 18 gates will be introduced simultaneously, sky train facility will be given so that passengers can get their flight easily.
Moving to remaining information of another excellent facilities like southwest airport will be installed an ATM and car hair facility in full future development. Similarly, a small cafe will establish in part of passport control customs.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities. However, the report is somewhat superficial. While it identifies the key changes, the description of the layout is occasionally confusing, particularly regarding the location of the new shops and the 'car hair' facility (likely a typo for car hire). The overview is present but lacks a clear synthesis of the most significant changes. To improve, ensure that comparisons between the 'now' and 'next year' states are more precise and that all features are described with greater clarity and accuracy.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'To commence with' and 'Moving to remaining information'. Some sentences are disjointed, and the logical flow between ideas is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing. For instance, the transition between the description of the gates and the sky train is abrupt. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words will help the text flow more naturally and demonstrate a higher level of control over the structure of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. There are several instances of awkward word choices or errors, such as 'car hair' instead of 'car hire' and 'aviation industry of southwest' which is an inaccurate description of the airport site. The use of 'etcetera' is generally discouraged in formal IELTS writing. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'apron' and 'redevelopment', the overall control is inconsistent. Expanding the range of precise, academic vocabulary and ensuring correct collocations would significantly improve the quality of the response.
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. Issues include missing articles ('in following year', 'in part of security'), incorrect verb forms ('a small cafe will establish'), and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that passive voice constructions—which are essential for describing processes or plans—are used accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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