Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-02

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 6.0)

The figures illustrate the present condition of an airport named Southwest and how it will be reconstructed the following year.

Overall, the airport will undergo several modifications next year. However, the location of security, passport controls, and customs will remain unchanged.

At present, there are eight gates with walkways in the northern part of the airport. The airport is divided into two sections: security, passport control on the left side and passport control, customs on the right side. Moreover, check-in is on the west side, while cafe is on the east corner, behind the passport control of the left section. Consequently, departures and arrivals are on the southern part of airport on each side.

In contrast, the next year redevelopment plan comprises that the gates will be outnumbered to eighteen in Y- shaped pattern and the walkways will be tranformed into sky train. Shops will be placed infront of the security area. In addition, the check-in will be replaced by bag drop and the cafe will be behind the bag drop area. The check-in will stand in the initial location of cafe. A new cafe and an ATM will be opened in the right beyond the customs. Parking space will also be added in the airport. Furthermore, there will be more gates for departures and arrivals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining both the current layout of the Southwest airport and the proposed redevelopment plans for the following year. Key features such as the expansion of the gates, the addition of the sky train, and modifications to check-in and security are identified. However, some parts of the response are under-developed or contain minor inaccuracies in spatial reporting. For instance, stating that departures and arrivals are solely on the southern part of the airport is a simplification, and the description of the new facilities could be more precisely integrated to highlight the overall transformation. To reach a higher band, all key features need to be fully developed with clearer reporting of precise spatial relationships and a more comprehensive overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear division into introductory, overview, present-state, and future-state paragraphs. Information is logically grouped, allowing the reader to follow the spatial comparison between the two maps. However, cohesion relies on somewhat mechanical transitions and referencing, such as repetitive use of transitional adverbs ('Moreover', 'Consequently', 'In contrast') which can feel formulaic. While referencing is generally understandable, occasional awkward connections impede smooth progression. To achieve a higher level of cohesion, the writer should employ a wider variety of cohesive devices more flexibly and ensure that paragraphs flow into one another with greater naturalness and sophistication.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

An adequate range of vocabulary is used to describe the map changes, including terms such as 'reconstructed', 'modifications', 'redevelopment plan', and 'protruding area'. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'outnumbered' and 'tranformed', but these attempts are accompanied by inaccuracies in word choice and spelling ('tranformed' instead of transformed, 'infront' instead of in front of). Word-choice errors occasionally surface, such as 'the gates will be outnumbered to eighteen', which is an unnatural collocation for this context. These errors do not seriously impede communication, but they reflect the limitations characteristic of this lexical band. To improve, the writer needs to expand their range of functional vocabulary for describing diagrams and pay closer attention to natural collocations and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like relative clauses and comparative constructions ('how it will look', 'while cafe is on the east corner'). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('while cafe is on the east corner', 'in the right beyond the customs') and prepositional errors ('on the southern part of airport'). Despite these lapses, the sentences are generally clear and the errors rarely impede communication. To move into higher bands, the writer must demonstrate better control over articles and prepositions within complex patterns, and increase the proportion of error-free sentences while employing a wider variety of advanced grammatical structures.

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

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