Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The provided diagram illustrates an architectural design for an airport representing its current map and how it will look after its refurbishment next year.

Overall, the southwest airport will be significantly upgraded in terms of area and other important facilities for passengers.

Currently, the southwest airport has only 8 entrance gates, two walkways, one check-in for boarding, a cafe and one departure and arrival gate.

Next year, after the new upgrades, the southwest airport will witness 18 entry gates which will reduce the crowd at entry points, and walkways will be converted into sky train so the air travelers can easily move in and move out. Previously, there was not a single shop in the airport, but next year there will be a few shops inside the airport. The security, passport control and customs offices will remain same; however, the number of cafes will be increased to two. One major change is the increase in departure and arrival gate, and it will be 2 after the refurbishment. New changes in airport will experience an ATM and voyagers will easily withdraw the cash, a bag drop for air passengers, and a car hire as well, so the travelers can easily take cabs inside the airport.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the airport redevelopment, including the increase in gates, the introduction of the sky train, and the addition of new amenities. You have successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the current and future states. However, the report could be improved by grouping information more logically—for instance, separating structural changes (gates, sky train) from service additions (shops, ATM, bag drop). While you mention that security and passport control remain the same, ensuring a more analytical approach to the layout changes would elevate the response. Overall, the task is addressed clearly and effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that detail the changes. You use some cohesive devices such as 'however' and 'previously' to signal transitions. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the sky train and the shops feels a bit abrupt. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is smoother. Paragraphing is present and appropriate, which helps the reader follow the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'refurbishment', 'architectural design', and 'upgraded'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'voyagers' (which usually refers to long-distance travelers or explorers) instead of 'passengers' or 'travelers', and 'take cabs' which is slightly informal. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Incorporating more specific collocations related to urban planning or infrastructure would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Next year, after the new upgrades, the southwest airport will witness 18 entry gates which will reduce the crowd...'. While your meaning is generally clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'the number of cafes will be increased to two' (passive voice is slightly awkward here; 'will increase to two' is more natural) and 'New changes in airport will experience an ATM' (the airport will experience the changes, not the changes themselves). Punctuation is generally sound, but ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout.

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

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