Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-11

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 layouts illustrate the site of an airport and how it will look after renovation.

Overall, there will be expansion in the area of an airport by the addition of ten gates as well as change the shape of the walkway area into Y-shaped. There will be addition of some amenities such as the ATM, the cafe, and sky train.

Currently, the airport has one arrival entrance as well as a departure entrance. Additionally, on the top right corner of the departure area there is a cafe, and opposite to it is a check-in point. Next to the check-in point, there is passport control and a security area. Moreover, on the north side of the airport, there are two walkways for passengers with eight gates.

For the future, they plan to add one gate on each entrance of departure as well as the arrival entrance so that there will be two on each side. In the departure area, the check-in and cafe will change their positions. In addition, there will be a facility for passengers in the form of a bag drop in the northwest corner of the departure area. Furthermore, in the arrival area, there will be the addition of some amenities such as the car hire, the ATM, and the cafe. There will be no changing in the passport control, customs, and security area. Finally, two walkways will alter into the sky train with the addition of ten gates so that they will become eighteen in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the airport plans, including the expansion of gates, the change in walkway shape, and the addition of new facilities. You have successfully identified the main differences between the current and future layouts. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the major changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more explicit; for example, instead of just listing the new facilities, you could contrast the lack of certain amenities in the current plan with their presence in the future one. Overall, the information is well-selected and accurately reported.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the current and future states. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the description. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring that the comparison between the two layouts is more integrated rather than just listing features. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and the referencing is mostly accurate, making the text easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the airport layout, such as 'renovation', 'amenities', 'walkway', and 'passport control'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'there will be no changing in the passport control', which should be 'no changes to'. Additionally, 'alter into the sky train' is slightly unnatural; 'be replaced by' would be more precise. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or precise terminology related to maps and diagrams would help elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'there will be addition of' (missing an article: 'the addition of') and 'change the shape' (should be 'changing the shape'). The sentence 'two walkways will alter into the sky train' is grammatically awkward. Despite these errors, the grammar does not impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing future changes.

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

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