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 given map illustrates the information of southwest airport in present and how it will be reconstructed after a year.
Overall, the key factor of the airport are facilities; which are limited now. Next year airport will have plenty of facilities as compares to present.
To begin with, in present departure area of the airport has a check-in counter in the left corner and a cafe in right corner but next year cafe will move just beside the departure gate on the left side and check-in counter will take place of cafe, while bag drop section also add at the place of check-in counter.
Arrivals area is empty nowadays but after redeveloping, car hire section will add just near the gate. Next to the car hire section ATM and a cafe also will build. However, security, passport control and customs area will reamained unchanged. As compares to present plan, airport will add Y shape space, for extra gates, which are 8 in present but next year 18 gates will be availabe. Sky rain facility also will provided for passengers, when passengers will move towards sky-train platform, shops also will availabe for them.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by attempting to outline the key differences between the present and future layouts of Southwest Airport. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the writer mentions the expansion of gates from 8 to 18 and the addition of the sky train, several details are vague or slightly inaccurate, such as stating the arrival area is 'empty nowadays' when passport control and customs are clearly present on the map. The overview provided in the second paragraph is very basic, stating simply that the airport will have more facilities next year. To reach a higher level, the response needs a more developed, precise overview of the major spatial transformations and a more accurate reporting of existing features.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear division into introductory, overview, and body paragraphs. Information regarding the departure and arrival zones is separated into distinct sections, making the progression relatively easy to follow. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty due to repetitive transitional phrases like 'To begin with' and awkward referencing, such as 'which are 8 in present but next year 18 gates will be availabe.' Furthermore, paragraphing could be improved by separating the discussion of the arrival zone from the terminal concourse changes. To achieve a higher band, the writer must employ a wider and more natural range of cohesive devices and ensure smoother transitions between sentences.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'reconstructed,' 'counter,' 'concourse' (implied), and 'facilities.' There are noticeable spelling errors ('reamained,' 'availabe,' 'Sky rain') and minor word-choice inaccuracies, such as using 'space' instead of 'concourse' or 'arm.' While these lexical shortcomings do not seriously impede communication, they highlight an occasional lack of precision. To progress to a higher band, the writer should employ a wider variety of less common vocabulary relating to spatial change (e.g., 'expand,' 'extend,' 'relocate') and maintain greater accuracy in spelling and word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures such as conditional and temporal clauses (e.g., 'when passengers will move towards sky-train platform'). However, control of grammar is inconsistent, featuring frequent errors in articles ('in present departure area'), prepositions ('add at the place of'), and subject-verb agreement or tense usage ('next year cafe will move,' 'ATM and a cafe also will build'). Punctuation is also weak in places, notably with comma splices and unnecessary commas around clauses. These errors reflect the characteristics of this band, where grammatical faults are frequent enough to draw attention, though they rarely obscure the overall meaning.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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