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 plans illustrate the area of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.
Overall, it is clear about the southwest airport now and after redesign upcoming year, where at now there are few places but after development there are many places than now, and develop technically.
Looking first at now airport, there are four areas; check-in, cafe, walkway, and gates. Todays, airport there is a no elevator. However, security and passport control in the left side of the airport, and passport control customs in the right side.
In another plan, there are some changes like there will be shops inside the airport as well as the facility of elevator. In the middle area of the airport, on left side bag drop checking will develop, but the place of cafe and check-in will exchange shown in this plan. The ATM and parking spot also develop in next year at the arrivals site. Moreover, in the comparisons between now and after next year there 8 gates in now and 1 to 18 gates in after redevelopment next year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the airport redevelopment. However, the overview is somewhat weak and lacks clarity, as it relies on vague phrasing like 'many places than now'. While you successfully highlight key changes such as the addition of shops, elevators, and the expansion of gates, the description of the layout is occasionally confusing. For instance, the mention of 'passport control customs' and the spatial relationships between areas could be more precise. To improve, ensure your overview clearly synthesises the most significant trends, such as the overall expansion and modernization of facilities, rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Looking first at now airport' and 'In another plan' are somewhat unnatural. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is occasionally disjointed, particularly when describing the spatial layout. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words and transition phrases more naturally (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Regarding the layout'). Additionally, ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this plan') clearly points to the intended information to improve the flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. You rely on repetitive and basic terms like 'places', 'develop', and 'area'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'bag drop checking' and 'passport control customs'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to maps and diagrams, such as 'relocated', 'expanded', 'integrated', or 'transformed'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and nouns will help you convey the changes more effectively and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect article usage ('the southwest airport', 'in the left side'), subject-verb agreement ('there 8 gates'), and awkward phrasing ('there are many places than now'). Punctuation is also inconsistent. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and ensuring correct preposition usage. Proofreading for common errors like missing 'is/are' or incorrect pluralisation will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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