Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-24

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 7.5)

The plans illustrate the current layout of Southwest Airport and the proposed changes following its redevelopment next year.

Overall, the airport is expected to undergo significant expansion. The most notable changes will be the extension of the existing walkway, the addition of ten new gates, and the introduction of several new facilities, including shops, a sky train, ATMs and car-hire services.

At present, the airport has a relatively simple layout. After passing through security and passport control, passengers enter a central walkway containing eight gates. Gates 1 to 3 are located along the left side, while gates 4 to 8 are positioned further along the walkway. The departures area is on the left of the main entrance, whereas arrivals are on the right. There is also a café and check-in facilities in the departures section.

After redevelopment, the central walkway will be extended and divided into two branches, creating a Y-shaped arrangement. The number of gates will increase from eight to eighteen. Gates 1–6 will be situated on the left branch, while gates 7–10 will be at the upper section and gates 11–18 will be located on the right branch. A sky train will also be installed in the central section to transport passengers between the terminal and the gates.

In addition, the airport will offer a wider range of passenger services. Shops will be added near the beginning of the walkway, while the departures area will contain a bag-drop facility and an additional café. On the arrivals side, passengers will have access to an ATM and a car-hire service. Thus, the redevelopment will substantially increase both the airport's capacity and the range of facilities available to passengers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and detailed comparisons between the current and future layouts of Southwest Airport. The main features, such as the Y-shaped concourse extension, the increase in gate numbers, and the addition of new passenger facilities like the sky train and shops, are accurately reported. The response is well-grounded in the visual data without introducing irrelevant outside information. A strong overview is presented in the second paragraph, which successfully highlights the most notable changes. The student fully satisfies all requirements of Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organised and flows smoothly from a general introduction and overview into specific descriptions of the current layout, the future changes, and additional facilities. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'At present', 'After redevelopment', and 'In addition' are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader through the comparison. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to an overall coherent and well-structured report.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to describing maps and spatial changes, such as 'undergo significant expansion', 'Y-shaped arrangement', 'substantially increase', and 'passenger services'. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate and natural, for instance, 'layout', 'concourse', and 'facility'. There are only occasional minor instances where phrasing could be more sophisticated, but overall the lexical resource is strong and allows for precise reporting of the visual data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used effectively, including temporal clauses ('After passing through security') and passive constructions ('will be extended', 'will be installed'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is well maintained throughout the text. Punctuation is accurate, and verb tenses are handled correctly to contrast the present layout with future developments. The grammatical range contributes significantly to the clarity and professionalism of the report.

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