Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-26

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 6.0)

The plans illustrate the infrastructure of an airport now and after refurbishment.

Overall, it is evident that the infrastructure will undergo some notable changes such as the number of gates will be doubled. Furthermore, shops, another cafe, bag drop, an ATM, sky train and a car hire will be introduced.

Currently, the layout of the airport is simpler with 8 gates at the north. There is a walkway after entering from the gates that leads to passport control on each side, security on the right and customs on the left side. After crossing security, there is a cafe on the southern side and check-in to the west. Straight ahead is the departure area.

After remodeling, there will be Y-shaped gate areas with the numbers significantly increasing from 8 to 18. A sky train will be constructed instead of the walkway that will lead to shops before security. After crossing security and passport control, there will be a new bag drop. The location of check-in and cafe will be changed with two gates ahead to the departure. On the left side, after passing customs there will be a cafe, an ATM and car hire with two entrances to arrivals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by comparing the current airport layout with the proposed future development plan. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting key developments such as the doubling of gates, the introduction of a sky train, and new commercial facilities. Main features are reported accurately, including the transition from 8 to 18 gates in a Y-shaped configuration and the relocation of check-in and security areas. However, there are a few minor spatial misreadings in the detailed description—for instance, describing passport control and customs as being before the security gates in the current layout, whereas they are situated differently on the plan. Overall, the response is well-structured and covers the necessary visual data adequately, aligning with a Band 6.5 to 7.0 descriptor. Awarding 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overall summary paragraph, and separate paragraphs detailing the current layout and the proposed changes after remodeling. Cohesive devices are used adequately to guide the reader through the comparison (e.g., 'Currently', 'After remodeling', 'On the left side'). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two timeframes. However, referencing and transitions occasionally feel slightly mechanical, and some spatial relationships between facilities are a bit tangled. Nevertheless, the overall arrangement is coherent, making it easy to follow the progression of information. This fits the Band 6.5 criteria well. Awarding 6.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'infrastructure', 'refurbishment', 'reconfiguration', and 'Y-shaped'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, though a few word choices and collocations are slightly unnatural or inaccurate, such as 'a car hire' instead of 'a car hire facility' or 'car hire booths'. Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient to present the information clearly, matching the requirements for Band 6.0. Awarding 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, utilizing relative clauses and conditional-like time markers (e.g., 'After crossing security, there is a cafe...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'such as the number of gates will be doubled' (faulty clause integration) and missing articles (e.g., 'introduced... with two gates ahead to the departure'). Despite these errors, the meaning is generally clear, and communication is not seriously impeded. The control of grammar corresponds to a Band 6.0 level. Awarding 6.0.

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