Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-30
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 MAP ILLUSTRATES THE CURRENT LAYOUT OF AIRPORT TERMINAL AND PLANNED MODIFICATION FOR ITS FUTURE.
OVERALL, THE TERMINAL WILL UDERGO SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION. THE MOST NOTABLE CHANGES INCLUDE THE EXTENSION OF THE MAIN CONCOURSE INTO Y-SHAPE TO ACCOMMODATE THEN 1 TO 8 NUMBER OF BOARDING GATES, ALONGSIDE THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW AMENITIES AND SKY TRAIN SYSTEM. AT ENTRANCE TO DEPARTURE A CHECKING IN ARE FIRST THEN CAFE ARE PRESENT BEFORE PASSPORT CONTROL AND SECURITY.
ON THE ONE HAND,AFTER REDEVELOPMENT AIRPORT ARE DESIGNED TO MODERN PATTERN AND MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS NUMBER OF BOARDING GATES ARE DOUBLE 1 TO 18, A BRAND NEW SHOPPING AREA WILL BE INTROUDUCED. FOR TRAVELLING SKY TRAIN STATION ARE ALSO BUID IN CURRENT TERMINAL AND FACILITIY OF ATM, BAG DROP, CAR HIRE ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE TRAVRLLERS, THE SINGLE EXIT WILL BE REPLACED BY TWO SEPARATE SETS OF DOORS. ALTHOUGH, PASSPORT CONTROL AND CUSTOMS ZONE WILL REMAIN INTACT.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student addresses the prompt by providing an overview and describing the main changes shown on the maps of Southwest Airport. The overview correctly identifies the overall expansion and modernization, including the Y-shaped concourse extension and the sky train. However, there are some inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the visual data. For instance, the student states that the boarding gates are doubled to 1-18, whereas the original had gates 1-8 and the new version features gates 1-18 (which is more than doubled). Additionally, parts of the description of the current layout contain confusing phrasing and minor spatial inaccuracies. Nevertheless, the main features of the redevelopment are covered, earning a solid Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is divided into a general introduction/overview paragraph and a body paragraph detailing the changes. There is a basic logical progression, signalled by linking phrases such as 'OVERALL', 'ON THE ONE HAND', and 'ALTHOUGH'. However, paragraphing is not fully effective, as the first paragraph contains a mix of the introductory overview and specific details about the current layout. Furthermore, cohesive devices are sometimes clunky or misused, and referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'AFTER REDEVELOPMENT AIRPORT ARE DESIGNED'). Coherence suffers from mechanical transitions and a lack of smooth flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student attempts a range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, including words like 'redevelopment', 'modernization', 'amenities', and 'facilities'. However, there are numerous lexical errors and awkward word choices throughout the text, such as 'UDERGO' instead of undergo, 'CHECKING IN ARE FIRST' instead of check-in counters, and 'BUID' instead of built. Spelling mistakes ('INTROUDUCED', 'TRAVRLLERS') and grammatical word-form errors restrict the score. The vocabulary is minimally adequate for the task, but lacks the precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text contains a mixture of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is weak. There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'AIRPORT ARE DESIGNED', 'SHOPPING AREA WILL BE INTROUDUCED' combined with plural/singular mismatches, 'CAFE ARE PRESENT'), missing articles, and incorrect prepositions ('AT ENTRANCE TO DEPARTURE'). Punctuation is also problematic, including erratic capitalisation throughout the response. While these errors do not completely obscure the overall meaning, they are persistent enough to impede smooth reading and place the grammar firmly in the Band 5 range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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