Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28
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 7.5)
The picture illustrates plans for the renovation of Southwest Airport in the years to come.
Overall, it is apparent that the airport will experience numerous changes, the most predominant of which is the expansion of gates and the establishment of various amenities, such as shops, a car hire, and an ATM, all aimed at meeting the demands of customers.
The location of the departure and arrival entrances will remain the same but there are plans to install additional doors. Upon entering the airport, there is currently a single check-in and cafe. The future plan projects moving the check-in from the left to right side of the departure space, making space for a bag drop, and repositioning the café to the bottom left-hand corner. The arrival section will affix a cafE, ATM, and car hire which necessitates expanding the size of the building.
Security, passport control, and customs will be unchanged, however, the future floor plan shows shops immediately upon exiting the security section for departures. The largest proposed alterations are replacing a walkway with a long sky train track and constructing 2 branching corridors that will enable flyers to reach more than twice as many gates (8 at the moment and 18 after renovations).
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively covers all key features of the airport redevelopment. You successfully identified the main changes, such as the expansion of the gates, the addition of the sky train, and the reconfiguration of internal facilities like the check-in and café. The comparison between the current 8 gates and the future 18 gates is a strong analytical point. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor details are fully integrated into the narrative flow; for instance, the mention of 'additional doors' is a good observation, but could be linked more explicitly to the overall expansion of the building footprint.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information thematically. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general changes to specific internal and external modifications. Cohesive devices such as 'Upon entering', 'however', and 'the most predominant of which' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the structural changes from the functional ones. The response is easy to follow, and the relationship between the current and future states is clearly maintained throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a task describing maps and plans. Phrases like 'predominant', 'repositioning', 'necessitates', and 'proposed alterations' show a level of sophistication. There is a minor error in 'affix a cafE', where 'add' or 'incorporate' would have been more natural collocations. However, the vocabulary is generally precise and contributes to a professional tone. You avoid repetition by using varied terminology for the airport's features, which helps maintain the reader's interest and demonstrates a flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response uses a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the opening relative clause and the participial phrase 'making space for a bag drop'. Most sentences are error-free, and the control of punctuation is generally good. There is a slight awkwardness in the phrasing 'The arrival section will affix a cafE', which is a minor grammatical inaccuracy regarding verb-object collocation. Nevertheless, the majority of your sentences are accurate, and the grammatical range is sufficient to support clear communication of the complex spatial information provided in the prompt.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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