Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-01

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 site of an airport now and after redevelopment how it will look in next year.

Overall, the walkway will be replaced by the sky train next year. Check-in would be substituted by bag drop.

To begin with, as earlier there were only 8 gates. But in the renovation of the site, there will be 18 gates which shows an increase in the number of gates. Above the security and passport control there was no shop. But in redevelopment it can be installed. The cafe will be replaced with check-in and the cafe will be at the south-west corner of the airport where it is the entry of departure. Earlier there was only one cafe. But in reconstruction there are two each one in arrival and departure. Also, in redevelopment car hire will be installed at the south-east corner of the airport. Furthermore, the entry gates are also increased as earlier there was only one for arrival and departure. But next year it will have two gates for both. Atm will also be placed at the front of the cafe in the arrival section. Security passport control and passport control custom will remain as it is as earlier it was.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses the main parts of the task by identifying key changes such as the expansion of the gates from 8 to 18, the introduction of the sky train, and modifications to the layout of shops and cafes. However, some aspects of the information are under-developed or described with slight inaccuracies, such as the claim that the walkway is replaced by the sky train when the visual data shows the sky train running alongside the extended concourse. The overview touches upon some general changes, but lacks a fully cohesive summary of the transformation as a whole. To move to a higher band, the writer should ensure that all reported features accurately reflect the visual data and provide a more fully developed, comprehensive overview of the spatial reorganizations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The writing demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement by attempting to contrast the current layout with the future plan, making use of basic sequencing devices like 'To begin with', 'Also', and 'Furthermore'. However, the logical progression is hindered by choppy, single-sentence paragraphs and abrupt transitions between areas of the airport. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the paragraphing is not used effectively to group related spatial features together. For instance, jumping between gates, shops, cafes, and entry points within a single dense paragraph creates a mechanical flow. To achieve a higher band, the student should organize ideas into logical thematic paragraphs—such as one for terminal amenities and another for the concourse expansion—and use cohesive devices more smoothly to guide the reader through the map.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully communicating everyday actions and spatial changes with terms like 'renovation', 'reconstruction', and 'extension'. The student attempts less common vocabulary with varying degrees of accuracy, leading to some awkward word choices and phrasing, such as 'can be installed' instead of 'will be added' or 'constructed'. There are also minor lexical confusions, like describing entry doors as 'gates for arrival and departure'. While communication is not impeded and the reader can follow the descriptions, spelling and word choice lack the precision required for higher bands. To improve, the writer should incorporate a wider range of precise architectural and spatial terminology, such as 'relocated', 'protruding extension', and 'amenities'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting comparative and conditional structures such as 'as earlier there were only 8 gates' and 'where it is the entry of departure'. There are noticeable errors in verb tenses, prepositions, and article usage—for example, shifting awkwardly between past and future tenses (‘there were only 8 gates... there will be 18 gates’) and omitting articles in phrases like 'Atm will also be placed'. Nevertheless, these grammatical errors rarely impede communication and the basic meaning remains clear. To reach a higher band, the student needs to demonstrate better control over complex sentence patterns and maintain consistent, accurate tense agreement when describing future modifications compared to the present layout.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.