Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-19

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 6.0)

The plans provide information about the site of an airport currently and how it will look after reconstruction by the next year.

Overall, the modern airport will experience significant changes with modern facilities and will face greater advancements. However, the excisting airport was too ordinary and has little developments and buildings.

Looking more into the plans, the current airport is in cylindrical shape with eight gates on the top with two walkways. Additionaly, there are two authorities on either sides such as security and customs for passport control. To the west there is a check-in area with a cafe facing it. On to the south there are places for departures and arrivals respectively.

In the future, 18 gates will be established on all sides of the structure while in the middle there will also be a sky train. Beneath the gates shops will also be located in the far corner, while the existing authority spots will remain in the same slot. In contrast, check-in area will be shifted to the other side and its space will be occupied by a bag drop area. The number of cafe's will be twiced on to the both ends and ATM will also be installed for cash withdrawals. Finally, car hire facility will also be seen and the designated areas for derpartures and arrivals will stay the same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main transformation: the airport expands from eight gates to eighteen, gains a central sky train, and adds facilities such as shops, an ATM and car hire. You also note that departures and arrivals remain in place and that check-in moves while bag drop is introduced. These relevant comparisons support a clear overview. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the current concourse is described as “cylindrical” and having “two walkways,” whereas the plan shows a rectangular concourse with a walkway. “On all sides” does not clearly describe the future Y-shaped gate layout, and the shops’ position is imprecise. The overview’s claim that the existing airport was “too ordinary” is subjective rather than a map feature. More precise spatial reporting would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the current layout and then the redevelopment. This gives the reader a generally logical route through the information, and transitions such as “In the future” and “In contrast” help signal comparisons. The progression is not always smooth, however: the overview includes the vague judgement that the airport was “too ordinary,” while the final paragraph moves between gates, shops, existing facilities and internal changes without a consistent spatial order. Some references, including “all sides,” “the other side” and “both ends,” leave the locations uncertain. Organising each plan from the terminal outward, and using more exact location references, would make the cohesion less mechanical and the comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “gates,” “sky train,” “bag drop,” “ATM” and “car hire,” so the main changes are usually understandable. There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “reconstruction” and “designated areas.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a plan: “cylindrical shape,” “authorities” for airport facilities, “remain in the same slot,” and “the number of cafe’s will be twiced.” Spelling errors such as “excisting,” “Additionaly” and “derpartures” also reduce control. Aim for precise location and change vocabulary, and check word forms and spelling; this would make the description more fluent and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple statements and longer structures, including “while” and “in contrast” clauses, and the overall meaning can generally be followed. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in articles, agreement, plurals and sentence construction. For example, “on either sides” should be “on either side,” and “the number of cafe’s will be twiced” has problems with both the plural construction and verb form. “In the future, 18 gates will be established” is grammatically possible, but the passive is less suitable for describing the plan than “the concourse will be extended to accommodate 18 gates.” Review article use and singular/plural agreement, and build complex sentences around clear comparisons. Greater accuracy across these structures would improve control.

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