Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-30

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 diagrams show the current layout of Southwest Airport and how it looks after redevelopment next year.

Overall, the airport will become much larger and more modern. The number of gates will increase significantly, and several new facilities such as a bag drop, sky train and ATM and car hire service will be added.

At present, passengers enter the airport through departures or arrivals. In the departures area, there is a check-in-desk, while a cafe is located in the arrivals section. After passing through security and passport control, passengers can walk along a straight corridor to reach eight gates. The airport also contains customs in the arrivals area.

After redevelopment, the airport will be expanded considerably. The walkway will be replaced by a sky train connecting the terminal to two new branches of gates. As a result, the number of gates will rise from 8 to 18. In the departures area, a bag drop facility will be added beside the check- in desk, while the cafe will remain in the same area. In the arrivals section, new amenities including an ATM and a car hire service will be introduced, Security, passport control and customs will continue to be located in their current positions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have provided a clear and accurate summary of the main features shown in the diagrams. You successfully identified the key changes, such as the expansion of the terminal, the addition of the sky train, and the increase in the number of gates from 8 to 18. The overview paragraph effectively highlights the most significant trends, which is a requirement for a high band score. You also made relevant comparisons between the current and future states. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor details are fully integrated into the comparison rather than just listing them, but overall, you have covered all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that contrast the current and future layouts. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'At present', 'After redevelopment', and 'As a result' effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the current state from the future state. The flow is natural, and the relationship between the different parts of the airport is clearly articulated throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'expanded considerably', 'amenities', and 'connecting'. The word choice is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used is natural. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to urban planning or infrastructure, such as 'infrastructure enhancements' or 'terminal capacity'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of 'After passing through security...' and 'The walkway will be replaced by a sky train connecting...' shows good control over complex sentence forms. There are very few grammatical errors, and punctuation is handled well. The sentences are clear and easy to follow. To improve further, ensure consistent tense usage when describing future changes, which you have done well here.

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

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