Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-03
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 plans illustrate the current site of an airport and how it will look after remodeling next year.
Overall, the new plan has included a sky train area as compare with the old plan which had walkway. Additionally, an area for shops is reserved in the new plan. Some facilities are also added in the arrivals area. The number of gates is doubled in the new plan as compare to single gates in the old plan.
The airport will undergo significant expansion which includes a sky train area instead of walkway. An area is reserved for the shops in the new plan whereas it was empty in the old plan. The cafe's position is changed and is now placed right next to the entrance of departures gate. A special area for bag drop is also now available in the new plan in place of check-in.
Check-in is shifted towards the right side of departure. Some new facilities like cafe, atm and extended area for car hire is also introduced in the arrivals section in the new plan as compare to previous one which was empty.
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 covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, including the addition of the sky train, the expansion of gates, and the reconfiguration of facilities. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention some changes, you do not synthesize the information to highlight the overall transformation of the airport's layout. Furthermore, some details are repetitive; for instance, the sky train and shop area are mentioned in both the overview and the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview provides a concise summary of the most significant trends, such as the general expansion and modernization of the terminal, rather than just listing individual features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the logical progression is somewhat hindered by the repetitive nature of the content between the overview and the body. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Additionally' and 'whereas', but the connection between sentences is sometimes mechanical. The transition between the description of the arrivals section and the departures section is abrupt. To improve, focus on grouping related information more effectively and using a wider variety of linking words to create a smoother flow between the current state and the future plan.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes clearly. You use relevant terms like 'remodeling', 'expansion', and 'reconfigured'. However, there are some inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'as compare with' (should be 'compared to') and 'sky train area' (which is slightly unnatural). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to maps and spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'extended', 'replaced by', or 'transformed'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions and verb forms, such as 'as compare to' instead of 'compared to' and 'is also introduced' (should be 'are also introduced' to match 'facilities'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor slips in article usage and subject-verb agreement. To improve, focus on ensuring that your comparative structures are grammatically consistent and pay closer attention to pluralization when listing multiple facilities.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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