Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

the spatial maps illustrate southwest airport before and after it's redevelopment. some structural changes are made to increase amenities and gates at the airport.

the major structure remains mostly unchanged but a lot of new facilities are expected to be introduced for the passengers. the most important change is the introduction of multiple gates at arrival and departure. this change will specifically help reduce congestion at bottle neck areas. a lot of changes are also designed keeping in view the modern trends like, atm for cash withdrawal as many people prefer to carry cards these days. a car hire station is also introduced to facilitate the pick and drop of passengers. another important amenity that has been planned is shops for passenger to visit, this is a useful attempt to change the way how people spend their time before their flight.

a new structure is also introduced to increase the number of gates, which will further help in increasing number of flights per day. a sky train has also been introduced to facilitate the mobility of passengers from one gate to another.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response identifies the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the new gates, sky train, and amenities. However, it fails to provide a clear overview or summary of the overall changes, which is a requirement for Task 1. The description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precise comparisons between the 'now' and 'next year' states. While the key features are mentioned, the report lacks a professional, analytical tone, and the lack of a clear structure (introduction, overview, body paragraphs) hinders the ability to fully address the task requirements. To improve, ensure you include a clear overview paragraph that highlights the most significant changes at the beginning of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between ideas is often mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices is limited. For example, the text relies on simple sentence structures rather than linking ideas effectively. Paragraphing is present but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks cohesion, making the flow of information feel somewhat disjointed. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') to connect sentences and ideas more fluidly, and ensure each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected for higher bands. Phrases like 'a lot of' are used repeatedly, which is informal and repetitive. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'amenities', 'congestion', and 'mobility', which is positive. However, the range is limited, and the word choice is often basic. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to spatial descriptions and development, such as 'expanded', 'integrated', 'transformed', or 'upgraded', and avoid informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it's redevelopment' (should be 'its'), 'some structural changes are made' (should be 'have been made' or 'will be made'), and 'shops for passenger to visit' (should be 'passengers'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing capital letters at the start of sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently enough to impact the overall quality. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct use of possessive pronouns, and consistent sentence punctuation.

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

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