Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

The blueprints contrast the current physical layout of Southwest Airport with its proposed infrastructural configuration following a comprehensive redevelopment project scheduled for next year.

Overall, the airport terminal is slated to undergo an extensive modernization and expansion. The primary upgrades involve a massive extension of the boarding concourse, a significant increase in the total number of available boarding gates, the implementation of an internal passenger transit system, and the addition of multiple commercial and arrival amenities.

At present, Southwest Airport features a simple, symmetrical floor plan divided evenly between a departures zone on the left and an arrivals zone on the right. In the departures sector, passengers check in and pass through a centralized security and passport control checkpoint. Once cleared, travelers walk down a narrow, linear boarding corridor equipped with a mere 8 gates. On the adjacent arrivals side, incoming travelers pass through passport control and customs before reaching a basic exit.

Following the redevelopment next year, the airport's operational capacity will expand dramatically. On the departures side, the single check-in area will be supplemented by a second desk, and a car hire facility will be integrated near the entrance. Furthermore, a dedicated shopping zone will be constructed immediately past the security checkpoint. The arrivals sector will also see modifications, including the addition of an internal café, a currency/ATM station, and a separate car rental pickup point situated at the far right exit.

The most profound structural overhaul occurs within the boarding terminal. The current linear concourse will be completely demolished and replaced by a massive, bifurcated Y-shaped structure. This structural alteration will more than double the number of gates from 8 to 18. Gates 1 through 10 will line the newly formed northwestern branch, while gates 11 through 18 will occupy the northeastern branch. To facilitate rapid passenger movement across this significantly lengthened terminal, a motorized sky-train or automated moving walkway will be installed down the central spine of the new concourse.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student provides a fully developed and well-supported response that covers all parts of the prompt. The overall comparison between the current and proposed layout of Southwest Airport is clearly established in the introduction and reinforced by a strong overview outlining key changes such as the concourse extension, gate addition, sky-train installation, and commercial upgrades. Specific details, such as the transition from 8 linear gates to a Y-shaped structure with 18 gates, are reported accurately based on the visual data. The progression of changes across both departures and arrivals is clearly articulated without unnecessary repetition.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized and demonstrates a clear progression from the introduction to the overview, current state, and future development. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately to separate distinct conceptual areas, such as the contrast between arrivals/departures and the major structural changes in the boarding terminal. Cohesive devices are managed skilfully and naturally without being mechanical, utilizing referencing terms like 'In the departures sector' and 'Following the redevelopment next year' to guide the reader seamlessly through the spatial comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.5

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task report. Less common and precise items such as 'infrastructural configuration', 'bifurcated Y-shaped structure', and 'operational capacity' are employed skilfully. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate, with only very occasional minor awkwardness. The language effectively conveys spatial relationships and functional changes without relying on repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used with a high degree of flexibility and precision. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, demonstrating excellent control over tense consistency, relative clauses, and participial phrases (e.g., 'Once cleared, travelers walk down...', 'To facilitate rapid passenger movement...'). Grammar and punctuation are handled with advanced proficiency, and any minor slips do not impede communication whatsoever.

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