Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-20

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 given diagram shows information about the site of an airport now and how it will look after development next year.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that there will be several changes in an airport. There are eight gates and it will increase from eight to eighteen.

Looking at the bar graph in more detail, there are rectangular shaped eight gates of the southwest airport and a walkway under the gates. There is security passport control on the left side and passport control customs on the right side. Check-in and a cafe held in the departures area. What is more, the structure will be changed from rectangular to Y-shaped and there will be eighteen gates. A walkway will be replaced by a sky train. Shops are added between the space of security passport control and the gates.

Moreover, a bag drop will be added to the place of check-in and a cafe will be replaced by check-in. There will be a cafe added to the arrivals side. An ATM will be build next to a cafe and a car hire will be added to the south-east corner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main transformation clearly: the terminal expands from eight to eighteen gates and the concourse changes from a rectangular layout to a Y-shape. You also report several relevant additions, including the sky train, shops, ATM and car hire, so the response covers the key stages. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the current security and passport-control facilities are not correctly described as being on the left and right, and the future bag drop is added while check-in is relocated—not replaced by bag drop. The overview is present but could better summarise the main changes to both the concourse and terminal facilities. More precise comparisons and accurate locations would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the current and future layouts. Sequencing phrases such as “Overall,” “Looking at … in more detail,” and “Moreover” help signal progression. However, the organisation within the detail paragraph is sometimes difficult to follow because current and future features are mixed together, and some references are unclear—for example, “a bag drop will be added to the place of check-in and a cafe will be replaced by check-in.” Grouping the present layout first and then describing the redevelopment in a consistent order would improve cohesion. Use linking expressions to show specific contrasts rather than relying mainly on general transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing a plan, including “Y-shaped,” “gates,” “walkway,” “sky train,” and “south-east corner.” These terms help communicate the main changes, and the reader can generally understand the intended locations. Some word choices and collocations are imprecise, however: “bar graph” does not describe a map, “held in the departures area” is unnatural, and “between the space of” is awkward. Repetition of “added” and “there will be” also limits flexibility. Choose standard map-description language such as “located,” “situated,” “relocated,” and “converted,” and use precise terms for the airport facilities. This would make the description more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence “There are eight gates and it will increase from eight to eighteen” and future constructions such as “there will be a cafe added.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “a cafe held in the departures area” has an incorrect verb construction, “an ATM will be build” uses the wrong verb form, and “a cafe will be replaced by check-in” does not express the intended relationship clearly. Articles and sentence structure also need attention. Practise describing changes with accurate passive forms, such as “will be added,” “will be relocated,” and “will be replaced,” and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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.