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 plan illustrates the airport after and before development. The development will take place after a year.
It shows two diagrams, one is bigger than the other. Right now the airport is divided into two portions one is reserved for departures and the other is for arrivals. Arrivals facilitate with only passport control customs meanwhile, the developed airport accommodates more. It provides cafe services, ATM as well as car hire facilities. Moreover, there’s more than one way to exit from airport.
Moreover departure area is also developed in new diagram. It also facilitates with a bag drop, overall the positions of each facility is changed and more exit options are available. After advancements the airport provides many more options like shops, sky trains etc.
Overall, southwest airport seems to gain more facilities than before, this enhances the overall experience; people may feel more relaxed on airports with increased comfort facilities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying key changes between the current and future airport layouts. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While you mention the addition of facilities like shops and sky trains, the report lacks a clear, structured overview of the spatial changes, such as the relocation of the check-in area or the expansion of the departure lounge. The summary of the 'main features' is present but could be more analytical by grouping information logically rather than listing items. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview paragraph that highlights the most significant transformation, such as the overall expansion and the shift from a basic terminal to a more comprehensive facility.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the logical flow is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices like 'Moreover' is repetitive and lacks variety. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, particularly when moving from the description of the current airport to the future one. The referencing is occasionally unclear; for instance, 'the developed airport' and 'new diagram' could be more precisely linked to the specific visual data. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring a smoother progression of ideas would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'bigger' and 'changed'. While you successfully use terms like 'passport control', 'customs', and 'facilities', the overall lexical range is limited. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'facilitates with a bag drop' (which is grammatically incorrect; 'features' or 'includes' would be better). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'integrated', or 'transformed'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'Arrivals facilitate with only passport control' is incorrect; it should be 'The arrivals area is equipped with...'. There are also issues with article usage ('on airports') and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice for describing diagrams will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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