Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The given plans illustrate the site of an airport how it is looked now and how it would present after redevelopment next year.
Overall, the big change is introduced for the gates and the previos walkway will convert to the sky train although four positions are planned for arrivals and departures, respectively. However, through the arrival entrance many facilities will be available for the passengers.
According to current plan, two entances are available one for arrival and other for departture where a check-in and cafe exits for travelers. The depature sector is connected with portion where security and passport control process done and the opposite section to it also deal with suctoms and passport control and we can access this from the arrival side. Afterward, passport control on both sides lead to the walkingway after some empty space and this path is surrounded by eight gates.
After a year, two arrival entrances will be available and passengers would avail a cafe, ATM and care hire spot there. Similarly, departure would have two entring points where cafe and check-in is relocated and a point for bad drop is added, further connected portion from both sides will remained the same. However, by passing the shops, the walking path replaced with long sky train and ten more gates are planned with two ends.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 plans, including the addition of the sky train and the expansion of gates. However, the description of the layout is sometimes confusing, particularly regarding the 'arrival' and 'departure' sectors. While the overview identifies the main changes, the comparison between the two plans lacks precision in certain areas, such as the specific location of the new facilities. The report would benefit from a more structured approach to comparing the 'now' and 'next year' states, ensuring that the reader can clearly visualize the spatial changes without needing to refer back to the prompt constantly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future state. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the transition 'Afterward, passport control on both sides lead to the walkingway'. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, making it difficult to track which part of the airport is being described. While there is an overall logical arrangement, the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking words and ensuring that the relationships between the different areas of the airport are explicitly stated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the airport features. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and spelling errors, such as 'previos' (previous), 'suctoms' (customs), 'bad drop' (bag drop), and 'care hire' (car hire). These errors occasionally distract the reader. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to airport infrastructure and ensure accurate spelling of key terms. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'the big change is introduced for the gates', 'the walking path replaced with long sky train', and 'connected portion from both sides will remained the same'. These errors, including issues with verb tense and passive voice construction, occur throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction. Improving control over verb forms and prepositions would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.