Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-21

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 5.0)

The map shows the development that took place in the southwest airport.

Overall, the layout underwent significant modernazation with several new facilities replacing older structures with new modern style.

Initially, we can see that old structures had security passport control the east which remained unchanged in the new one, while check in was renovated with bag drop and check in shifted besides bag drop and cafe is added below. In addition, shops are added above the security passport controls. In west, we can see passport control customs which is also same with planned development. Similarly, cafe and Atm had added in passport control customs. Likewise, Car hire is constructed in the bottom of passport control customs.

. Futhermore, Walkway are demolished, while skytrains are erected. Consequently, there are 1 to 8 gates in plan, However that is changed to 1 to 18 gates in future planned development. Although departures and arrivals remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the main features of the maps, noting key changes such as the expansion of the gates from 1 to 8 to 1 to 18, the addition of a sky train, shops, and car hire. However, there are several inaccurate details and spatial misinterpretations, such as stating that 'walkways are demolished' and mislocating various facilities. Additionally, the overview is rather weak, stating that older structures were replaced with a 'new modern style' rather than summarising the specific spatial transformations. The response covers the task to some extent but lacks precision and comprehensive coverage of all major structural shifts, placing it at band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into a short introduction and a main body paragraph, but the paragraphing lacks sufficient structure for a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Initially', 'In addition', 'Similarly', and 'Furthermore', but they are frequently mechanical or used inappropriately to sequence spatial descriptions rather than logical arguments. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the precise location of the features being described. The overall arrangement is somewhat disjointed, which limits the score to band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student attempts to use a range of vocabulary related to maps and development, including words like 'modernisation', 'renovated', 'constructed', and 'demolished'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('modernazation', 'Futhermore') and awkward word choices or collocations, such as 'cafe and Atm had added in passport control customs'. The vocabulary is adequate for conveying basic ideas, but the repetitive phrasing and inaccuracies restrict the score to a band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and passive structures (e.g., 'which remained unchanged', 'is constructed'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and prepositional use (e.g., 'Atm had added', 'in passport control customs', 'in west'). Punctuation is also problematic, including stray punctuation marks and run-on phrasing. While meaning is generally retrievable, the high frequency of errors places this performance at band 5.0.

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

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