Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-14
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 MAPS DEPICT THE CURRENT LAYOUT OF SOUTHWEST AIRPORT AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE.
OVERALL, SUBSTANTIAL REDEVELOPMMENT IS PLANNED FOR THE AREA. SEVERAL NEW FACILITIES WILL BE ADDED, WHILE SOME EXISTING STRUCTURES WILL BE MODIFIED AND REMOVED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SITE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE MODERN AND FUNCTIONAL.
LOOKING FIRST, WALKWAY WILL BE REPLACED BY SKY TRAIN AS WELL AS NUMBER OF GATES SIGNIFICANTLY RISING FROM 8 GATES TO 18 NAMING ACCORDING TO NUMERICAL ORDER. ADDITIONALLY, ENTRY FOR ARRIVALS AND EXIT FOR DEPARTURES ARE SET TO BE EXPANDED, WHILE SECURITY PASSPORT CONTROL AND PASSPORT CONTROL CUSTOMS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. A NEW ATM AND BAG DROPPING ARE ALSO SCHEDULED TO BE CNSTUCTED IN MAIN AREA.
AS FOR REMAINING PARTS OF THE SITE, CAFE IS PLANNED TO BE RELOCATED TO THE RIGHT SIDE. MEANWHILE, ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS CAR HIRE AND SHOPS WILL BE INTRODUCED. OVERALL, THESE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE APPEARANCE AND FUCTIONALITY OF THE AREA.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response successfully covers all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of Southwest Airport before and after redevelopment. The writer provides a clear overview stating that substantial changes are planned, including the addition of new facilities and the modification of existing structures. Key comparisons are made, such as the increase in gates from 8 to 18, the replacement of the walkway with a sky train, and the relocation of the cafe. While some minor details could be further elaborated, the response satisfies all core requirements for Task Achievement, presenting a clear and accurate picture of the visual information provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and overall statement, followed by body paragraphs detailing specific spatial changes. Cohesive devices such as 'OVERALL', 'LOOKING FIRST', 'ADDITIONALLY', and 'MEANWHILE' are used to guide the reader through the maps, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the main areas of development. Overall, the organizational structure allows for a clear logical progression throughout the description of the airport layout.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a map description, utilizing terms such as 'redevelopment', 'relocated', 'infrastructure', and 'functionality'. There are some awkward phrasings and word choice inaccuracies, such as 'CNSTUCTED' (spelling error for constructed) and 'FUCTIONALITY' (spelling error for functionality), as well as missing articles in phrases like 'walkway will be replaced' and 'cafe is planned'. However, the vocabulary used is sufficient to communicate the intended comparisons and spatial changes clearly without impeding the reader's understanding.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms to describe the before and after states of the airport. There are several grammatical errors, notably the omission of necessary articles (e.g., 'a walkway', 'the cafe') and some minor spelling slips. Complex structures like passive voice constructions ('will be replaced', 'are set to be expanded') are handled with moderate success, although punctuation is entirely absent due to the use of ALL CAPS throughout the text. Despite these limitations, the majority of sentences are understandable and communication is not seriously impeded.
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