Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-03

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 5.0)

The given plan show the site of airport before and after development.

Now we see cafe in one corner and check-in in other corner while entering,then security control room then walk away,with two doors for arrival and departure.

After development we see different gates for departure and arrival.In arrival section we see an area of car hiring,ATM and coffee shop has been introduced for convenience of people.Then comes passport control section with walk away in two direction for arrival and departure.In departure section we see cafe close to entrance and the bag drop in one corner and check in in other corner.Then comes security passport control section.Then cwith 9 walk in .After development there come different walk aways.Sky train service has been provided for the convenience of Number of gates hve been increased after development.After development more facilities are provided to the people which were Miss before.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe the changes to Southwest Airport before and after development, but it only addresses the task minimally. It fails to meet the 150-word minimum requirement, falling short at 147 words. While the writer mentions several features such as the arrival and departure sections, the cafe, check-in, and new facilities like the sky train and car hire, the information is presented in a disorganised and superficial manner. Key comparisons between the two plans are underdeveloped, and important spatial relationships and numbers of gates are imprecisely reported. To achieve a higher band, the response must fully satisfy the word count requirement, provide a clear overall overview of the primary changes, and present a well-developed selection of key features with accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation in the response, moving broadly from the current plan to the future plan, but there is no clear overall progression. The writing lacks a proper introductory overview and standard paragraphing, instead presenting a dense block of loosely connected sentences. Cohesive devices are minimal, repetitive, or inadequate, relying heavily on simple sequential transitions like 'then' and 'after development' rather than sophisticated linking words or referencing. To improve, the writer needs to group related information into logical paragraphs, use clear topic sentences, and employ a wider range of cohesive devices to guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic words and phrases such as 'after development', 'area', and 'section'. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'car hiring' instead of 'car hire', and 'coffee shop' instead of 'cafe' as shown on the plan. Spelling and word choice errors, such as 'walk away' instead of 'walkway', occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. To reach a higher band, the student must expand their vocabulary range by incorporating more precise, topic-specific terminology and demonstrating better control over word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting mostly of simple sentences and repetitive patterns like 'we see' or 'there comes'. Attempts at more complex structures are frequently faulty. There are persistent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('show the site of airport'), incorrect subject-verb agreement ('Number of gates hve been increased'), and punctuation issues. Errors are frequent and often cause strain for the reader. To improve, the writer should practice forming complex sentences accurately, ensure correct article and plural usage, and pay closer attention to basic grammatical agreements and verb tenses.

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.