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 are 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 located on the top 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
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student fully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the main features and making appropriate comparisons between the current and future layouts of Southwest Airport. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the most significant developments such as the extension of the walkway, the addition of new gates, and the introduction of new facilities. Key details, such as the Y-shaped configuration and specific infrastructural additions like the sky train and shops, are accurately reported from the visual data. The progression from the current simple layout to the redeveloped complex is logical and well-supported with relevant details throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
Information and ideas are logically sequenced with a clear overall progression from introduction to overview, current layout, future layout, and concluding remarks on services. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in structuring the report. Cohesive devices such as 'At present', 'After redevelopment', 'In addition', and 'Thus' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparison of the two plans without being intrusive.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide, flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task describing architectural and infrastructural changes. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'undergo significant expansion', 'Y-shaped arrangement', 'substantially increase', and 'passenger services'. Word choice is precise and natural throughout the response, with no notable errors in spelling or collocation that would detract from the high quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
A wide range of grammatical structures is used with a high degree of accuracy. The response features complex sentences involving temporal clauses, passive voice constructions, and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'After passing through security and passport control, passengers enter...', 'The number of gates will increase from eight to eighteen'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and control of punctuation and tense consistency (shifting appropriately between present and future forms) is excellent, reflecting strong overall grammatical control.
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