Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31
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 diagrams explain the current site of southwest airport and how it looks after it refurbishment next year.
Overall, it is crystal clear that there will be increase in number of gates and other things also develop in airport . But security passport control and passport control customs remain unchanged.
From arrivals side , there is passport control customs for passengers . There is 8 gates available in airport .
From departures side , cafe is present in right corner of airport. Opposite to this cafe , there is check in present for passengers .
After its development, there will many things construct in southwest airport . 18 gates are avialable for entry of people . Then , sky train will be constructed instead of walkway and this is bigger in size also . New shops will be open . In the security passport control , bagdrop will be made and there will be change in the location of cafe and check in . more gates will construct on departures side . In the passport control customs , new things will be made in the gap and size will be increased .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a basic overview of the changes, identifying the increase in gates and the addition of a sky train. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While it mentions the 'arrivals' and 'departures' sides, the reporting of specific features is often vague (e.g., 'other things also develop'). The comparison between the current and future states is present but lacks precision in describing the spatial layout changes. To improve, you should focus on grouping information more logically—for example, describing the terminal layout, the transport links, and the passenger facilities separately—rather than listing features in a disjointed manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps with overall structure. However, the flow between sentences is often mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'From arrivals side' and 'From departures side' are used as simple labels rather than to create a cohesive narrative. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and some transitions feel abrupt, such as the jump between describing the current airport and the future development. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help the ideas progress more naturally and improve the overall readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic verbs like 'made', 'construct', and 'open', which do not accurately describe architectural or layout changes. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'after its development, there will many things construct' (should be 'be constructed') and 'avialable' (spelling error). To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and diagrams, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'integrated', or 'replaced'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and nouns will help you convey the information with greater clarity and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and articles, such as 'there will be increase' (missing 'an'), 'there will many things construct' (incorrect passive voice), and 'in the security passport control' (unnecessary article usage). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors and the lack of complex sentence structures limit the score. Focusing on the correct use of the passive voice (e.g., 'a sky train will be installed') and ensuring subject-verb agreement will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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