Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-12

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 diagram gives information about the site of an airport before and after the development in the following year.

In general, c major change can be seen in the devlopment, by adding bag drop section in the departure area. In addition, cafe were build for the refreshment of the people in departures and arrivals. Moreover ATM and Car hire were also included.

Initially, before the development the area of an airport was small in size, usually consist of security passport control counters in the departure. In addition, passport checking counters by custom officers in arrivals side. Airport had 8 gates with a smaller walkway for crowd.

The most promenant feature was increase in number of enterence gates, ten gates were added additionally. Whereas, change in the location of from top right corner to the the top left corner below, walkway was replaced by sky trains. Cafe, ATM, and car hire were also accounted as new.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad purpose of the plans and note several genuine changes, including the increase from eight to eighteen gates and the addition of a sky train, ATM and car hire. However, the account is only partially developed: it does not clearly describe the new Y-shaped concourse or explain the main changes to the terminal layout. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, security and passport control are not described as counters in the departure area, and the walkway is not simply replaced by a sky train; the train runs centrally along the extended concourse. The overview also focuses on facilities rather than clearly summarising the major spatial transformation. To strengthen the response, compare the two layouts systematically and report the locations of the new facilities accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the original layout and then later changes. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression is not consistently clear: the final paragraph returns to features already mentioned, and the relationship between the original and redeveloped plans is not always explained. Linking words such as “In addition,” “Moreover,” and “Whereas” are used, but some connections are awkward or do not express a clear contrast. For example, “Whereas, change in the location…” is difficult to follow and does not specify what has moved. Grouping information by area—concourse, departures and arrivals—and using clear comparisons would make the description more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “development,” “gates,” “walkway,” “ATM” and “car hire,” so the main subject is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “area of an airport was small in size,” “refreshment of the people,” and “accounted as new.” Spelling errors, including “devlopment,” “promenant” and “enterence,” also reduce accuracy and can distract the reader. Aim for precise map-description language, such as “the terminal was relatively compact,” “a café was added,” and “the number of gates increased.” Check spelling and use natural collocations when describing locations and changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including “Moreover ATM and Car hire were also included.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles and verb forms occur frequently. Examples include “c major change can be seen,” “cafe were build,” and “usually consist of,” where the forms do not agree with the subject or required tense. The sentence beginning “Whereas, change in the location…” is also incomplete and difficult to interpret. These problems sometimes make the intended relationships unclear. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent past or present forms when comparing the existing and planned layouts. Proofreading for articles and singular/plural agreement would also improve clarity.

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