Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08
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 site of an airport before development and after development. It show that how it will look after development. The airport is named as "SOUTHWEST AIRPORT".
Firstly we take a look at the airport which is not yet developed. Before the development of the airport there are only few things that are showed in the plans. There are two terminals in the airport one is for departures for domestic and international flights. in the departures terminal when a passenger enters firstly they would go through the section of "Check-In". There is also a cafe in the airport. Then the passport of the passengers will be checked at the section "SECURITY PASSPORT CONTROL". Then they will go in the walkaway section and there they need to wait for the plane.
Secondly we take a look at the airport which is developed. The same airport is developed after the year and it is more advance. In this airport there two gates for the departures and also there are two gates for the arrivals as well. But in this there are more sections like "Check-In, Bag drop, Cafe, ATM, Sky Train, Car hire ans 18 gates that are more than the previous airport.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a basic overview of the airport plans, but it fails to adequately summarise the main features or make meaningful comparisons. The description is largely a list of labels found on the map rather than an analytical report. Key features, such as the significant expansion of the terminal building, the addition of the sky train, and the reconfiguration of the gate layout, are mentioned but not described in terms of their spatial relationship or overall impact. The response lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into three paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. The use of cohesive devices is limited to simple transitions like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Then', which makes the flow feel disjointed. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'But in this there are more sections', where the antecedent is ambiguous. While the response is readable, it lacks the sophisticated linking and paragraphing required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on words directly copied from the prompt (e.g., 'airport', 'development', 'terminals', 'departures'). There is little attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as synonyms for 'increase', 'add', 'expand', or 'reconfigure'. Some word choices are awkward, such as 'more advance' instead of 'more advanced' or 'walkaway' instead of 'walkway'. The range is sufficient to convey basic information but lacks the flexibility and precision needed for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include 'It show that how it will look' (incorrect verb agreement and redundant 'that'), 'there are only few things that are showed' (incorrect passive voice and article usage), and '18 gates that are more than the previous airport' (awkward phrasing). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with very few attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of quotation marks and commas.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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