Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-17

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 provided plan illustrate the modifications in the specific site of an airport at present and reconstruction after a year.

Overall, it clearly displays that the excess of gates will be extended and new atm and car hire will also be added.

To commence with, currently there are 8 gates to enter in the airport, while this facifity would be extended upto 18 gates. Additionaly, after the removal of walkway new sky train would be added next year. Furthermore, in the centre of airport security, passport control and customs will be remained same, however the facility of new shopes will be seen in the southwest airport.

Moving ahead, check in will be converted into bad drop next year and the location of cafe will also be changed. Moreover, the facility of Atm will also be added along with new car hire. In addition, the gates for departures and arrivals will also be extended in the next year plan.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main change in capacity, noting that the airport expands from 8 to 18 gates, and you mention several additions, including the sky train, shops, ATM and car hire. This gives the response a relevant overview and addresses both the present and future plans. However, some important changes are unclear or inaccurately described: check-in is not converted into bag drop, as both facilities appear in the redeveloped plan, and the gates themselves are not described as being for departures and arrivals. The claim that security, passport control and customs remain the same is also too broad, since the plans show their locations but do not establish that every feature is unchanged. Include clearer spatial comparisons and explain the terminal changes more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. Sequencing phrases such as “To commence with” and “Moving ahead” help signal progression, and the reader can follow the general contrast between the current and future airport. However, the organisation is not consistently logical: the first detail paragraph combines gate capacity, the walkway, security and shops, while the next groups check-in, cafés and other facilities without a clear spatial pattern. Several transitions, including “Furthermore” and “Moreover,” are repetitive or do not clarify how details relate. Organise the comparison by areas of the plan—for example, the concourse first, then departures and arrivals—and use references that make each location clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “gates,” “walkway,” “sky train,” “passport control” and “car hire,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range and control are limited by repeated general wording such as “facility” and “added,” and some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “excess of gates” does not naturally describe an increase, while “converted into bad drop” misnames the bag-drop area. Spelling errors such as “facifity,” “Additionaly,” “shopes” and “Atm” are noticeable and reduce precision. Use standard map-description terms and vary verbs to describe location and change, such as “is relocated,” “is introduced” and “is extended.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a concession with “however.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. For example, “The provided plan illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, and “will be remained same” uses an incorrect verb construction; write “will remain unchanged.” The opening phrase “modifications in the specific site” also has an awkward preposition and article pattern. Some sentences join several changes with commas and linking words, making the relationships less clear. Practise accurate present and future forms, agreement, and concise complex sentences; these improvements would make your comparisons easier to follow.

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.