Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-16

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 6.5)

The given map illustrate the plan for redevelopment of how a southwest airport will look after changing some features next year.

Overall, the airport will undergo significant redevelopment, with many facilities being introduced such as sky train, bag drop department, shops and widening the area on both arrivals and departures. The majority of gates will be build to improve passenger flow and minor replacements will happen.

First of all, ten more gates will be constructed in north to make flow smoother within airport and in between there would be a sky train instead of walkway for convenience. Moreover, the departures and arrivals area will be expanded for passengers, allowing them move around easily.

Subsequently, security, customs and passport control will remain unchanged. However, to the northwest shops will be made for people to spend some time. Check in department will be moved to left in departure area and bag drop unit will be placed on the former position of check in. Additionally, the ATM will be assembled in southeast of arrivals beside car hire section. Finally, a cafeteria will be built near departure gate.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You give a clear overview of substantial redevelopment, identifying the added sky train, shops and bag drop, the increased gate capacity, and the fact that security, customs and passport control remain unchanged. These are relevant main features, and the response addresses both the current and planned layouts. Some details, however, are inaccurate or too general: the check-in counter moves to the inner wall beside Arrivals, not “to left,” and the new café in Arrivals and the car-hire area are not clearly reported. The claim that both areas will be expanded “for passengers” is also an interpretation rather than a precise description of the plan. To strengthen the account, describe the Y-shaped concourse and locate the new facilities more accurately, while avoiding unsupported explanations such as improving passenger flow.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. Sequencing phrases such as “First of all,” “Moreover,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the information, and the unchanged security and control facilities are usefully contrasted with new additions. This coherent arrangement meets the lower-band expectations well. However, some links feel mechanical, and the grouping of details is not always logical: the final paragraph moves from shops and check-in to the ATM and then a café without consistently distinguishing Departures from Arrivals. The reference in “the former position of check in” is also unclear. Organise details by terminal area and use more precise location references to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “redevelopment,” “facilities,” “passenger flow,” and “remain unchanged,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more specific terms such as “bag drop” and “sky train.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a plan: “bag drop department,” “widening the area,” “assembled” for an ATM, and “departure gate” for the café’s location. “Cafeteria” is understandable, but the map labels this facility as a café. Aim for accurate map vocabulary and natural collocations, especially when naming facilities and describing positions. This would make the account more precise without requiring a much broader vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “allowing them move around easily” and a contrast introduced by “However.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “The given map illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “will be build” uses the wrong past participle. The phrase “allowing them move” needs an infinitive marker, and “will be expanded for passengers” is awkwardly constructed. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “in north” and “in southeast of arrivals.” Practise checking agreement, verb forms, and article use, and revise complex clauses to ensure they are complete and accurate. More consistently controlled sentences would improve clarity.

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

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