Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The given diagram represents the site of an current airport and how it will look after one year.
Overall, it is crystal clear that many thing will replaced in southwest airport. The man made diagram now and after development. Their is many changes we have seen in the diagram. The situation of airport now and after development.
Moving further in departure their is only one gate and a cafe and check in center. In arrivals gate there are many vacant places in this. If we see we have 8 gates and reach to the gates with walking.
Moving ahead after the one year their is two gates of departure section and change the location of cafe and check in and got a new section named bag drop. In arrivals section we have two gates and a cafe, ATM and car hire. Security passport control and Passport control customs are similar before the one year. Additionally, the current single walkaway got a 18 gates and a shopping centers. The sky train is also available to transport passengers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to describe the changes to the airport, but it fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the main features. The description of the 'before' and 'after' states is confusing and contains factual inaccuracies (e.g., claiming there are 8 gates in the current airport when the diagram shows a different layout). The overview is weak and repetitive, failing to highlight the most significant transformations, such as the expansion of the terminal and the addition of the sky train. The response lacks the analytical depth required for a Band 6 or higher, as it struggles to clearly communicate the spatial changes shown in the diagrams.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a logical structure. The introduction is repetitive and does not clearly state what the diagrams represent. Paragraphing is present but ineffective, as the ideas within the paragraphs do not flow logically. There is a heavy reliance on simple, repetitive cohesive devices like 'Moving further' and 'Moving ahead', which makes the text feel mechanical. Referencing is often unclear, particularly when describing the locations of the new facilities. The overall progression of information is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the two time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There is frequent misuse of basic terms, such as 'man made diagram' instead of 'map' or 'plan', and 'situation of airport' instead of 'layout'. The student relies on very basic descriptors, and there is no attempt to use more precise vocabulary related to maps or urban planning (e.g., 'extended', 'relocated', 'integrated'). Some phrasing is awkward, such as 'reach to the gates with walking', which hinders clarity. To improve, the student needs to focus on topic-specific vocabulary and more natural collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'many thing will replaced', 'there is two gates') and article usage. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often marred by errors in word order or preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally decipherable, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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