Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-19
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 5.5)
The two figures below illustrates southwest airport's layout now and its layout after development.
Overall, the new redeveloped airport will be bigger with 18 gates, 10 more than the current one. The security, passport control, customs are unchanged while other things have shuffled a bit and newer facilities are available after development.
The airport now has 8 gates with an arrival pathaway and a departure exit . We can use any of the gates which will lead us to a walkway. After walking through the walkway, we have a vacant foyer followed by customs and passport control . Finishing all the procedures, we can check-in and wait for the flight sitting at a cafe. Then, we can exit through departures gate.
The reconstructed airport will have 18 gates with two arrival pathaways and two departure exits. Regarding arrivals, We can enter from any of the gates and then hop on a sky train, which replaces the current walkway. Then we will have an open foyer. After passing the foyer, we will execute necessary procedures in passport control and customs which remain unchanged from before. Afterwards, we can see a cafe as before in the same place. In the new airport, there will be ATM and car rent services as well sorrounding the cafe. For departure, similarly we will use any of the 18 gates and then travel through the sky train. Then, we will observe shops instead of a vacant foyer just like the current airport. Then, we will go through security and passport control which remained unchanged. After that, we will check-in from a different place than before. Bag drop services will be allocated to the place where the check-in is currently. Afterwards, we will sit in the cafe and wait to exit through the departures gate.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the main changes between the current and future layouts of Southwest Airport. An overview is provided, noting the expansion from 8 to 18 gates and the addition of new facilities. However, there are significant factual misreadings regarding the spatial layout and movement through the airport. For example, the student states that the sky train 'replaces the current walkway' and that passengers 'hop on a sky train' upon entering from the gates, whereas the visual data shows the sky train running centrally along the stem of the extended concourse. Additionally, the sequence of security, passport control, and check-in is confused. Consequently, the response covers the task only partially, earning a band score of 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is divided into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to the current and future layouts. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Regarding arrivals', and 'Similarly' are used to structure the text. However, referencing and progression are sometimes faulty due to confusing directional logic within the maps. Paragraphing is adequate, but overall logical flow is hampered by inaccurate spatial descriptions. This places the response solidly in the band 6 category.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'redeveloped', 'facilities', 'concourse' (implied), and 'surrounding'. There are some awkward or imprecise lexical choices, such as 'arrival pathaways' and 'car rent services', but these do not impede communication. Spelling is generally accurate, though minor mechanical issues occur. The lexical range is sufficient for an attempt at less common vocabulary, justifying a band score of 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional and prepositional structures effectively (e.g., 'After walking through the walkway, we have a vacant foyer...'). There are noticeable grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, particularly with pronoun usage and active voice where passive is more appropriate (e.g., 'We can enter from any of the gates'). However, these errors rarely impede overall communication. The sentence structures display enough variety and control to achieve a band score of 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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