Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-02

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 given maps illustrate the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.

Overall, it is clear that current airport can only have 8 gates which will be increased by towice. However thier are 4 new secetion that will be constructed with in a year.

Firstly their are two main gates, one for arrivals and another for departures. Moving forward their is a customs following with passport control for the passangers to onboard and head to their aircrafts. However, contumers coming from will go straight to the security counter follow with the passport control office. While they can also head to cafe, at the left of the hall and opposite of the cafe passangers can visit to the Check-in deck.

In future plan, their will be 2 arrivals gates and same with departures. While their will be a new block for cars at the left after the arrivals moving forward people can access to ATM, just next to ATM they can have refreshments. However, their is no change in the customs and passport but platform will be constructed in Y shape so that their can be more gates about 18, and the exclivater will be shifted in the center. Moreover new shops will be developed before the security. Bag drop will also be constructed where passangers can take their bags at the right side opposite to it thier will be check-in which was at the right before, at the end before the departures gates thier will be a cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities like the car park and shops. However, the response lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention the increase in gates, the description of the layout is somewhat cluttered and lacks a structured comparison between the 'now' and 'future' states. To reach a higher band, ensure you group information logically—for example, by comparing the terminal layout or passenger flow—rather than listing features sequentially. The summary of the 'Y-shaped' platform is a good observation, but the overall report would benefit from more precise comparisons of the spatial changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future plan. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, the frequent use of 'However' to start sentences is often inappropriate, as it does not always signal a contrast. Additionally, referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'their can be more gates', where the pronoun usage is confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to previously mentioned nouns would significantly improve the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe airport features like 'passport control', 'check-in', and 'refreshments'. However, there are frequent spelling errors (e.g., 'towice', 'secetion', 'passangers', 'exclivater') and word choice issues (e.g., 'contumers' instead of 'customers'). These errors occasionally impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on mastering the spelling of common vocabulary related to maps and processes. You should also aim to use more precise terminology, such as 'terminal', 'layout', or 'expansion', to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include incorrect subject-verb agreement, misuse of 'there' vs 'their', and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'follow with the passport control office'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and spelling prevents the text from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for common errors like 'there is/are' and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound before attempting more complex forms.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.