Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

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

Overall, there will be an expansion in the area of an airport by the addition of ten gates as well as changing the shape of the walkway area into a Y-shape. There will be the addition of some amenities such as an ATM, a cafe, and a 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 car hire, an ATM, and a cafe. There will be no change in the passport control, customs, and security area. Finally, two walkways will be converted 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 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the airport redevelopment, including the expansion of gates, the addition of the sky train, and the relocation of facilities. Your overview is clear and provides a good summary of the changes. You have made relevant comparisons between the current and future states, such as the increase in the number of gates from eight to eighteen. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, describing the 'Y-shape' walkway is excellent, but ensure the locations of new amenities are described with consistent reference points to help the reader visualize the changes more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, moving from a general overview to specific details of the current layout, followed by the planned changes. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these sections. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' to link your ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary the placement of your cohesive devices and use more referencing (e.g., 'this development', 'the latter') to connect sentences more fluidly rather than relying solely on sentence-initial connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'amenities', 'relocation', and 'converted'. The language is accurate and appropriate for a report on a diagram. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more precise collocations or sophisticated synonyms for movement and change, such as 'undergo a transformation', 'be integrated into', or 'be relocated to accommodate'. Your current vocabulary is functional and clear, which is a strong foundation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your control of grammar is generally good. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is accurate. You successfully use future tense constructions ('will be', 'will change') to describe the planned modifications. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'expansion in the area of an airport' (should be 'the airport') and 'on each entrance' (should be 'at each entrance'). To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or relative clauses, to describe the changes more dynamically.

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

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