Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-01

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)

Task 1

The provided maps illustrates the changes that will take place in an airport in next year after renovation of the today's Southwest airport.

Overall, according to new development plan, the renovated airport have various amenities ranging from ATM to sky train. However, ten more gates will introduce in the upcoming airport.

To begin with, on the top side of today's airport there are eight gates present but only first there has walkway and portions available. In the bottom of the map, separate gate for departures and arrivals. The cafe is situated near the top right section of departure corner, check in facility is also available which is at left side in the departure portion. Above these portions, the two cabinets available for security, passport control and passport control or customs.

Moving further, after redevelopment the southwest airport gets modernised. On the top side of airport there will be eighteen gates present, instead of walkway, there would be sky train facility available for passengers. In the left side of the airport, there will be two departure gates available and on the right side of this portion there will be cafe and bag drop section. In the right of the departure there will be check-in facility which is shifted from the left. Right above the departure portion some shops will be seen in the airport. In the right, two arrival gates would be there and right side of these portion will be covered with ATM, cafe and car hire.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the airport plans, including the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities like the sky train. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant changes. While you mention the increase in gates, you could have better highlighted the shift from a walkway-based system to a more complex, modernised layout. The information is generally accurate, but some details, such as the specific locations of amenities, are described in a way that is slightly difficult to follow without constant reference to the map. To improve, focus on grouping related changes together to provide a more cohesive summary of the transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Moving further' to signal transitions. However, the progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive, and the referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'this portion' or 'these portions'). The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between the 'now' and 'future' states is clearly signposted throughout the text. The paragraphing is logical, but the internal cohesion needs more refinement to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the airport features effectively. You use terms like 'renovation', 'amenities', 'modernised', and 'facility'. However, there is a lack of variety, and some word choices are slightly awkward or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'portion' and 'side'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial description, such as 'situated in the northern sector', 'adjacent to', or 'undergone a significant transformation'. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the sophistication required for higher scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The provided maps illustrates', 'the renovated airport have') and article usage (e.g., 'in next year', 'in the upcoming airport'). You attempt some complex structures, but these often contain errors, such as 'instead of walkway, there would be sky train facility available'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors is noticeable. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that articles are used correctly with singular and plural nouns. A more consistent control over simple and complex sentence structures is needed.

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