Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05

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 6.0)

The plans illustrate the current design of the airport and how it is going to be after modification in next year.

Overview, present airport have only 8 gates, however there is plan to add reshape terminals and add 10 more gates. Similarly, two more departures and arrivals gates are in plan as well to build. Several facilities are also included to add next year.

At first glance, next year the terminal will remodel into y shape from square shape and walkway will be replaced with the sky train to cover long distance, because new terminal will have 18 gates. New shops will be constructed after passing security, customs and passport control.

There are only check-in and cafe at check-in area currently. But next year various facilities will be added at check-in area, such as bag drops, ATM and car hire. Two more gates are in the plan as well for next year, one at departures and another is at arrivals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the airport plans, including the terminal shape change, the addition of gates, and the new facilities. However, the overview is somewhat weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. The description of the 'y-shape' terminal and the sky train is accurate, but the report could be improved by grouping the information more logically rather than listing features in a slightly disjointed manner. While all parts of the task are addressed, the development of the comparison between the current and future states could be more precise to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition 'At first glance' is not ideal for a report on diagrams. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the connection between sentences could be smoother. Some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the mention of 'two more gates' in the final paragraph, which lacks a clear link to the previous information provided about the total number of gates. Improved use of linking words would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes effectively. Words like 'remodel', 'constructed', and 'facilities' are used correctly. However, there is a lack of variety and precision in the lexical range. Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'how it is going to be after modification in next year'. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim to use more sophisticated collocations and precise terminology related to map descriptions, such as 'undergo a transformation' or 'the layout is set to be reconfigured'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the sky train', 'at check-in area') and prepositions. Additionally, there are issues with verb tense consistency and word order, such as 'present airport have only 8 gates' and 'how it is going to be after modification in next year'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would be beneficial.

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

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