Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-29
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 5.5)
The plan illustrates the before and after of the redevelopment of a southwest airport.
Some mandatory services are retained such as the check-in counters, gates and cafes. A new area is allocated for the check-in counters and cafes. Previously, there was only one cafe which is now upgraded to two, one at arrivals and the other at departures. Similarly there were only 8 gates previously but the latest plan shows 18 gates.
However, a few services are added as well. The walkway area is replaced by the sky train systems, and are extended over a bigger area. Similarly an ATM machine and car hire area is added at the arrivals. The bag drop area will be constructed at the departures. The new plan also contains shops, which are located just above the security passort control area. The number of entrances and exits are increased for departures and arrivals respectively.
Lastly, the passport control customs and security passport controls are in their orignal place.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student successfully identifies the main features of the airport's redevelopment, noting the expansion from 8 to 18 gates, the introduction of a sky train, new shops, and additional amenities like bag drop, car hire, and an ATM. However, the response lacks a clear, distinct overview paragraph to summarise the overarching changes, which is a key requirement for a Band 7 in Academic Task 1. Some spatial details are slightly imprecise, such as locating the new shops 'just above the security passport control area' rather than along the angled wall between departures and the concourse stem. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, but the lack of a proper overview prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text exhibits a coherent overall arrangement, moving logically from retained features to new additions and unchanged elements. Paragraphing is used, though grouping ideas into slightly more cohesive thematic blocks would improve the structure. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'However', and 'Lastly' are employed, but some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though paragraph divisions are somewhat short and choppy, which limits the flow. To reach a higher band, the student should integrate the ideas into a more seamlessly flowing structure with a distinct overview.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with appropriate functional terms such as 'redevelopment', 'mandatory services', 'concourse', and 'amenities'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'allocated', 'upgraded', and 'replaces'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'security passort control' (spelling error: passport) and 'in their orignal place' (spelling error: original). The range is sufficient to convey the message clearly, but it lacks the precision and flexibility characteristic of higher band descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing passive structures ('is retained', 'will be constructed') and coordinate clauses effectively. There are several grammatical and mechanical errors present, including spelling mistakes ('passort', 'orignal'), punctuation oversights, and awkward subject-verb agreement or phrasing in sentences like 'the walkway area is replaced by the sky train systems, and are extended over a bigger area'. Nevertheless, these errors rarely impede overall communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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