Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The diagram illustrates that the map of an airport how it will look after renovation and redevelopment upcoming year as compared to the present airport.
overall, in present the airport has less facilities and space, while the map design for next year airport renovation shows that an airport will look more spacious and will have better installation to facilitate the public.
in the present time the airport has total eight gates to entertain public. There are two counter for passport checking, these counters called passport control on is on the right side and the other is on the left side. On the left side there is a small table for security the verify people identity. It contain two main gates : arrival and departure. on the departure side there is a small cafe and check-in cabin.
The other map depicts after one year plan. the airport total area will expand and have more space as compared to now. It will become more advance there will be additional sky train along with 18 gates. on the entrance shops will build. On the arrival side there will an additional area alloted for car hire, a cafe build, and an ATM is placed. On the departure portion a bag drop place is added.
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 plans, including the expansion of gates and the addition of new facilities like the sky train and shops. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical focus on the most significant changes. While the overview is present, it is slightly repetitive and lacks a sophisticated synthesis of the data. The comparison between the two maps is clear, but some details, such as the specific locations of the new facilities, could be more precisely described to fully meet the requirements for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the current state to the future plan. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'on the left side', 'on the arrival side'). There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the airport features clearly. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive (e.g., 'side', 'place', 'area'). There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'better installation' instead of 'better facilities' or 'on the entrance' instead of 'at the entrance'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to use more precise and varied vocabulary related to urban planning and infrastructure, such as 'terminal', 'expansion', 'integrated', or 'amenities'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the map of an airport', 'the airport total area'), subject-verb agreement ('shops will build' instead of 'shops will be built'), and tense usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. The student needs to focus on consistent verb tense usage when describing future plans and improve the accuracy of passive voice constructions to enhance the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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