Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-04

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 shows the site of Southwest airport currently and how it will look after redevelopment a year later.

The airport is going to have major changes in gates while there would be slight changes in Departure and Arrivals.

Many new facilities are planned to be added to the airport building, while the walkway is expected to be removed. In addition the locations of different things are also going to change.

The number of gates is going to increase from 8 gates to 18. While there would be 2 gates of arrivals and departure each instead of 1 which they currently have. The sky train would be placed in the centre of the gateways. A little change in locations is also taking place where the bag drop, check-in and cafe are placed on the departure gates while another cafe, ATM and car hire are placed near arrival gates.

To summarise the redevelopment plan would be very beneficial for the travellers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the airport redevelopment, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, you mention that the 'locations of different things are also going to change' but do not provide enough specific detail regarding the spatial layout or the relative positions of the new amenities. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more comprehensive overview of the changes, ensuring that all key features are clearly compared and described with precision rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'In addition' and 'To summarise' are used, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking words or referencing techniques to connect the ideas more fluidly. The progression of information is clear, but the overall structure feels a bit disjointed due to the reliance on simple sentence structures and basic transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You use general terms like 'different things' and 'a little change', which are imprecise. While you successfully use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'redevelopment', 'facilities', and 'gateways', the range is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and descriptive language to characterize the changes, such as 'expanded', 'relocated', or 'integrated', rather than relying on basic verbs and nouns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The plans shows') and awkward phrasing ('2 gates of arrivals and departure each'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of prepositions and articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help elevate your score.

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

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