Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-18
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 plans illustrate the current layout of southwest airport and the projected structure after rennovation in the following year.
Overall, it is evident that southwest airport will undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of a sky train, additional gates, an atm center, a car hire space and a bag drop center.
Regarding the existing layout, the arrivals unit is a free space, above it is a passport control and customs center and a non-functional area is above this unit. This is followed by eight gates with passengers walkways and this gates can lead to the departures and arrivals section. Meanwhile the depatures space begins from the southern area of the building, in that space is a cafe at the right and check-in section at the left. Above this, is an area dermacated for security and passport control center and it join the gates and passenger walkway after the empty room.
Turning to the proposed layout, the security and passport control center, passport control and customs unit, departures and arrivals are projected to maintain their sections. However, the gates at the apex of the airport will be extend to eighteen gates and the walkway will be converted to a sky train. In addition, shops will be constructed at the previous vacant space at the departures unit, then the check-in center will be move to the area used for cafe while a bag drop center will occupy check-in center original space and cafe will be moved to the adjacent part of the bag drop unit. At the arrivial unit, a new cafe, an atm center and a car hire space will be occupy the eastern part of the unit. Consequently, more doors will be installed at the depatures and arrivals units.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of Southwest Airport in both the current and future layouts. An appropriate overview is provided, highlighting key changes such as the introduction of a sky train, additional gates, and new passenger facilities. Key comparisons and spatial relationships are noted, such as the extension of the concourse into a Y-shape and the rearrangement of check-in, bag drop, and cafe areas. While some minor descriptive details regarding the current layout are slightly confused or imprecise (e.g., describing the arrivals unit as a 'free space'), the overall response satisfies the requirements of Task 1 well, earning a Band 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into four distinct paragraphs, following a logical progression from introduction to overview, current layout, and future layout. Cohesive devices are used adequately to guide the reader through the spatial changes, with phrases like 'Regarding the existing layout' and 'Turning to the proposed layout'. However, some cohesive referencing is slightly mechanical or awkward (e.g., 'and this gates can lead to...'), and paragraphing internally could flow more smoothly. Overall arrangement is coherent, placing it firmly at a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing architectural and layout changes, employing words such as 'transformation', 'projected', 'demarcated', and 'concourse'. However, there are notable word choice errors and typos throughout the text, such as 'rennovation' instead of 'renovation', 'atm center', 'dermacated', and awkward phrasing like 'space is a cafe at the right'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, placing this response at Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with varying degrees of success. There are several grammatical errors and awkward agreements, including 'this gates can lead', 'above this, is an area dermacated', 'will be extend', 'will be move', and 'a new cafe, an atm center and a car hire space will be occupy'. These errors occasionally distract the reader but do not completely impede communication. Control over complex forms is inconsistent, supporting a Band 5.5 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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