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 illustration gives us information that how the airport gets advanced by the end of next year. Overall, the passenger gets train to travel to their gates and shops after security control.

It is quite evident from the graph that the basic facilities before departure will be extended by many services like(ATM, car hire, bag drop).The numbers of gates at arrival and departure also extended. There is a wide free space after the security control which is planed to utilize with different kinds of shops.

Furthermore, the number of terminal gates also increased from 8 to 18. Currently the passengers have to travel by walk to their gates. But we have also planed to give a bus service from shops to their desired gates. To increase the number of gates the area of the airport also extended in two way dimension which gives us enough space to built new gates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have identified the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities. However, the response lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, and some details are inaccurate or poorly explained. For instance, you mention a 'bus service' which is not clearly supported by the visual data, and the description of the airport expansion as 'two way dimension' is vague. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a more precise summary of the key trends and avoid speculating on features not clearly depicted in the diagrams.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression between sentences is sometimes weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'also'. The transition between the current state and the future plan could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Phrases like 'gets advanced' and 'travel by walk' are unnatural and imprecise. You rely on basic descriptors and struggle with accurate collocations. To improve, focus on using more academic vocabulary related to maps and changes, such as 'undergo redevelopment', 'expand', or 'incorporate'. Avoid informal phrasing and ensure that your word choices are appropriate for a formal report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('the passenger gets', 'numbers of gates... also extended') and tense usage. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there are errors in punctuation and word order. While the meaning is generally clear, these frequent errors distract the reader. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing future plans, and proofreading for common errors like missing articles or incorrect pluralisation.

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

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