Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-07

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 5.0)

The picture shows that there are two airport- one which is the current one ; second which is a plan to built in future. There are some major differences in the both of the picture.

Let's begin with the first on ' There are less utilities vis-a`-vis the future one. There are 8 gates in total; a small area compared to the second image. Also there are no shopping facilities.

In the second image It represents the upcoming changes -addition of shops; car hire facilities; the bag drop area; and in addition the number of gats are increased. Also there are two cafe`s which might be the plus point. There is a special sky train services which might be more convenient then old walkaway. Also there is a very helpful service which is very important for many people -ATM; it is a necessary facility nowadays for emergency cash withdrawal and currency exchange

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main features of the airport plans, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities like shops and a sky train. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for Task 1. The description is somewhat informal and relies on personal commentary (e.g., 'might be the plus point', 'very helpful service'), which is inappropriate for an academic report. While the key features are mentioned, the comparison between the two plans is not fully developed, and the structure lacks the analytical tone expected in an IELTS Academic task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The introduction is disjointed, and the transition between the current state and the future plan is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used in a very basic or mechanical way, such as 'Let's begin with' and 'Also'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall flow of information feels more like a list of observations rather than a cohesive summary of the visual data. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively support the development of the topic.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'picture', 'things', and 'plus point'. There are several inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'gats' instead of 'gates', 'cafe`s' (incorrect apostrophe), and 'walkaway' instead of 'walkway'. The language used is often informal and lacks the precision required for describing technical diagrams. To improve, the student should focus on using more academic vocabulary related to spatial changes and development, such as 'expanded', 'integrated', 'constructed', and 'facilitated'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('there are two airport'), punctuation (misuse of semicolons and apostrophes), and sentence structure (e.g., 'second which is a plan to built in future'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. Complex structures are attempted but are often faulty, such as 'which might be more convenient then old walkaway' (incorrect 'then' instead of 'than'). The frequent errors in basic grammar and punctuation significantly affect the overall quality of the writing.

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