Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-09
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)
This is the map of southwest airport now and after development. This shows now airport have 8 gates and two walkways in front of 1 and 3 gate number. Then passport control on one side and custom on other side. There is cafe then there is Check in and after that there is departure gate. On the custom side there is no shop but a big arrival gate.
Then there is a map of after development. There are 18 gate's. Two sky trains in the middle. moreover there are shops on the left side. After that PASSPORT CONTROL. After that one the right side there is check in on and on left side there is bag shop , a cafe and departure gate's On the right side there is PASPORT CUSTOM then a cafe and an ATM more right there is a car hire and arrival gate's. It is looking advance than old.
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 covers the main features of the airport plans, such as the increase in gates and the addition of new facilities like shops and sky trains. However, the description is largely a list of features rather than a structured summary. It lacks a clear overview of the significant changes, such as the expansion of the terminal and the modernization of the layout. The comparison between the two plans is somewhat superficial, and the response would benefit from grouping information logically (e.g., comparing passenger flow or facility types) rather than simply listing items as they appear on the map. To improve, focus on identifying the most significant transformations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas within the paragraphs is mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on simple connectors like 'then' and 'after that'. There is a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the spatial layout of the airport. The transition between the 'now' and 'after' sections is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the spatial relationships between features are described with more precision and logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Words like 'side', 'gate', and 'cafe' are used frequently without variation. There are also issues with word choice and spelling, such as 'PASPORT CUSTOM' and 'bag shop'. The response lacks the academic vocabulary required for a Task 1 report, such as terms for describing change (e.g., 'expanded', 'relocated', 'transformed', 'introduced'). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to airport facilities and use synonyms to avoid repeating the same nouns and verbs throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammatical range is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. There are frequent errors in punctuation, such as the unnecessary use of apostrophes in 'gate's' and 'PASPORT'. Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, for example, 'airport have' instead of 'the airport has'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex sentence structures and the persistent grammatical errors hinder the fluency of the writing. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct pluralization and verb conjugation, and attempt to incorporate complex sentences using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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