Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-15

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 plans demonstrate the current situation of South West Airport and what it is planned to look after the redevelopment in the next year.

The current airport consists of checkin, cafe, walkway and eight gates. Whereas, the proposed proposed plan have an addition of several new developements such as car hire, ATM and eighteen gates. The redevelopment plan of the airport shows that airport area has also been increased.

The condition of the airport now comprises of

eight gates with a walkway in between. It has cafe, checkin points and mandatory security and passport control check. It is comparitively smaller than the proposed new plan.

The plan of the airport after redevelopment demonstrates the increased number of gates from eight to eighteen and a longer walkway. The additional services will also be incorporated which include ATM, sky train, car hire and bag drop with the compulsory arrival, departure and security passport check stations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall changes: the airport expands, the gate count rises from eight to eighteen, and new facilities such as an ATM, sky train and car hire are added. These are relevant features and give the response a basic comparison of the two plans. However, several important changes are not clearly reported, including the Y-shaped concourse, the shops, and the relocation of check-in and café facilities. The description also says there is a “longer walkway,” which is not a precise account of the new layout, and refers to security and passport checks as if they are all part of the redevelopment. To strengthen the summary, select the major spatial changes and describe where key facilities move to or are added.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the plans, gives a general comparison, and then describes the current and future airports. This helps the reader follow the broad topic. However, progression is limited because the second and third paragraphs repeat that the airport is larger and has more gates, while the final paragraph lists facilities without explaining their locations or how they relate to one another. The opening of the third paragraph, “The condition of the airport now comprises of,” is also left incomplete, interrupting the flow. Use a clearer paragraph structure—overview, current layout, then redevelopment—and connect comparisons directly rather than repeating them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “redevelopment,” “incorporated,” “walkway,” and “additional services,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparison. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “mandatory security and passport control check” and “the airport area has also been increased.” Repetition of “plan,” “airport,” and “gates” also reduces flexibility. Spelling errors such as “developements” and “comparitively” are noticeable. Aim for precise map-description language, especially verbs for location and movement, and check spelling and collocations. For example, describe facilities as being relocated, added, or positioned rather than relying on general phrases such as “incorporated.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is an attempt to use both simple and more complex forms, including the contrast introduced by “Whereas” and the relative clause in “services … which include.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement remain. “Whereas, the proposed proposed plan have” has an unnecessary repeated word and a subject–verb agreement error; “The condition … comprises of” is also an incomplete construction, and “comprises of” is not the correct pattern. The opening phrase “what it is planned to look after” is grammatically awkward. Practise complete sentence structures and check agreement and verb patterns. A more controlled version would be: “The proposed plan includes several new facilities, such as car hire and an ATM.”

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