Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-22
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 4.0)
The given diagram illustrates information about the comparing of an airport plane now and after one year of redevelopment.
Overall, it can be seen On the first floor of an airport there are significant redevelopments and the ground floor also redeveloped a lot, while there is less redevelopment seen on 2nd floor compare to all airport infrastructure.
To begin with, on the first floor of departure side there is cafe and check in section now and after development there is also bag drop section contructed.And on arrival side there is nothing but after development there is atm and cafe constructed.
Furthermore, the second portion is almost the same, there is security room and passport control and after redevelopment it is the same as it was.On the top if that there now there is steps which people goes through and after redevelopment lift has been built. There is also a shop in first diagram but after redevelopment it has been removed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The student attempts to describe the plans showing the airport before and after redevelopment, satisfying the minimum word count. However, the response contains significant inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the visual data. The student refers to 'first floor' and '2nd floor', which is incorrect as the plans depict a single-level ground layout (terminal and concourse). Furthermore, key features of the redevelopment—such as the massive extension of the concourse into a Y-shape with gates 1 to 18, the addition of a Sky train, and the relocation of check-in and shops—are largely missed or inaccurately described. Instead, the text focuses on confused details like 'steps' and 'lift'. Consequently, the core features and comparisons required for an Academic Task 1 are only partially and inaccurately addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5
The text is organized into four paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body details. However, the logical progression is hindered by confusing spatial references, such as mentioning floors that do not exist in the source material. Cohesive devices are basic and repetitive, with phrases like 'To begin with', 'after development', and 'Furthermore' used somewhat mechanically. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal logical flow of ideas within paragraphs is weak, leading to disjointed sentences that make it difficult to follow the comparison between the 'now' and 'after' states of the airport.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple words like 'airport', 'plane' (instead of plan), 'cafe', and 'shop'. There are noticeable word choice and transcription errors, such as writing 'airport plane' instead of 'airport plan' and misinterpreting map features as 'steps' and 'lift'. Less common vocabulary is either absent or misused. Spelling errors, such as 'contructed', 'atm', and spacing issues, occur throughout the text, limiting the lexical range to a minimally adequate level for basic communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response shows a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and repetitive 'there is / there are' constructions (e.g., 'there is cafe and check in section now and after development there is also bag drop section contructed'). Complex sentences are rarely attempted, and when they are, they are often faulty or run-on, such as 'while there is less redevelopment seen on 2nd floor compare to all airport infrastructure.' Punctuation and capitalization are frequently neglected, particularly around sentence boundaries and conjunctions. Errors in grammar and verb tenses are frequent and occasionally impede meaning.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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