Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-04
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 disgrams depict the layout of an airport now and after renovation next year.
In first picture we see two gates .In departure areas we see cafe and check in in opposite directions.Arrival section has nothing after entrance.We see the section of security passport control and passport control section .Then come two walkway .This all scence is before development.
After development we see different layout .In departure section cafe has been placed close to entrance,while bag drop and check in in opposite directions.Then we see security passport control section .The shops are opened next to this portion.Sky train service has been provided.After development we see 18 gates which were 8 before re-establishment.In arrival section we see car hire service jas been provided close to entrance.we see here two getaes which was one before development.Then we see cafe and ATM close to each other .
.Then comes passport control custom.The area next to it is empty .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response addresses the task only partially, presenting a rudimentary summary of the changes shown in the airport plans. While the student attempts to contrast the layout "now" and "after development" by mentioning features such as gates, check-in, the cafe, and newly added amenities like the sky train and car hire, the information is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, overarching overview. Furthermore, key comparisons are underdeveloped, and some details are vague or inaccurate, such as stating that the arrival section "has nothing after entrance" in the first diagram or misinterpreting the gate counts. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to select and report the main features more accurately, integrate a clear summary overview paragraph, and make more precise comparisons between the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
There is some basic organisation in the text, moving from the current layout to the future layout, but overall progression is lacking. Paragraphing is weak, with the response clumped into a couple of dense blocks instead of logically separating the introduction, overview, and specific details. Cohesive devices are minimal, repetitive, or mechanical (relying heavily on phrases like "In first picture", "Then come", and "After development"), which creates a disjointed reading experience. Pronoun referencing and signposting are also at times unclear. To improve, the writer should structure the essay into distinct, well-defined paragraphs, use a wider and more natural range of transition signals to guide the reader smoothly through the spatial changes, and ensure a logical flow of ideas from start to finish.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, which is just minimally adequate for the task. The student relies on basic, high-frequency words ("picture", "section", "area", "opened") and makes noticeable spelling errors such as "disgrams" instead of diagrams and "scence" instead of scene. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, for instance describing the sky train service as having "been provided" or shops being "opened next to this portion" rather than located or integrated. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are sparse and often inaccurate. To achieve a higher score, the writer must expand their lexical range by incorporating precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to maps and architectural changes, and eliminate basic spelling and word choice slips.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The grammatical range is limited, consisting primarily of simple sentences and repetitive clause structures. Attempts at more complex sentence forms are frequently faulty. There are frequent errors in basic grammar, including missing articles ("In first picture", "Arrival section"), incorrect prepositions ("in opposite directions" instead of on opposite sides), and punctuation issues, such as missing spaces after periods and stray punctuation marks. Verb tense usage is occasionally inconsistent or clumsy when describing spatial relationships and future changes. To progress, the writer needs to demonstrate a greater variety of complex structures with improved control, ensure correct article and preposition usage, and pay closer attention to punctuation and sentence boundary accuracy.
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