Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The maps illustrate the changes that will occur in the current condition and after renovation of an airport in the coming year.

Overall, there will be an extension in the area of the airport by the addition of some amenities as well as additional gates for passengers. The major addition of the SkyTrain will change the look of the walkways.

Currently, there is one gate for departure, and the cafe is located on the top right corner of the departure hall. Next, check-in is situated on the western side of the departure hall. Adjacent to departure, passport control, and security setup. Then, arrival has one gate, and the customs office and passport control are located next to it. Additionally, at the northern end of the airport, there are two walkways with eight gates.

After renovation, a new bag-drop area will be added, and the location of the cafe will be relocated from the top right corner to the southwestern corner. Moreover, in the arrivals hall, the cafe, ATM, and car hire will be located on the left side of the hall. Security, passport controls, and customs setup will remain unchanged. Right next to security and passport control, shops will be added. On the northern corner of the airport, the walkways will be replaced by a SkyTrain with the addition of ten gates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the airport redevelopment, including the addition of the SkyTrain, the relocation of facilities, and the expansion of gates. You have successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the current and future states. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the major changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that you group information more logically; for instance, discussing all passenger-related amenities together rather than listing them room by room would improve the clarity of your reporting. Overall, the task is well-addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific areas of the airport. You use cohesive devices such as 'Currently,' 'After renovation,' and 'Moreover' to guide the reader through the changes. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more sophisticated by grouping features by function (e.g., passenger services vs. transport infrastructure) rather than just chronological order. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and referencing is consistent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment,' 'amenities,' 'relocated,' and 'infrastructure.' There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive (e.g., 'located on'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophisticated collocation required for higher bands. For example, instead of saying 'the look of the walkways will change,' you could describe the 'transformation of the terminal layout.' Overall, the vocabulary is accurate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases (e.g., 'on the top right corner' should be 'in the top right corner'). You successfully use passive voice to describe the changes, which is appropriate for this task type. While there are no major grammatical errors that impede meaning, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. Increasing the variety of sentence types would help elevate the score.

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

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