Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-22

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 IMAGES ILLUSTRATES TWO DIFFRENT PLANS OF SOUTHWEST AIRPORT FIRST ONE SHOWS CURRENT SITUATION AND SECOND ONE DESPLAYS FUTURE AIRPORT STRUCTURE THAT HOW IT LOOKS AFTER RENOVATION. SOME PLACES REMAIN SAME IN BOTH AIRPORT SUCH AS CHECK-IN, CAFE AND GATES TO GET ENTER IN FLIGHT.

THE CURRENT AIRPORT, THERE ARE TWO MAIN GATES FOR DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS. AFTER ENTERING IN THE AIRPORT THROUGH THE DEPARTURE GATE CHECK-IN COUNTER IS LOCATED ON THE LAFT HAND SIDE AND THE CAFE IS EXACT OPPOSITE FROM CHECK-IN COUNTER. THERE ARE TWO CONTROL ROOM ONE FOR SECURITY AND OTHER FOR CUSTOMERS. IN NORTH SIDE EIGHT GATES ARE LOCATED AND PEOPLE CAN REACH TO THE GATES BY WALKING.

AFTER DEVELOPMENT, THERE WILL BE TWO MAIN GATES FOR DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS. ON THE LAFT HAND SIDE FROM ENTRANCE OF DEPARTURE GATE CAFE, BAG DROP AND CHECK-IN WILL BE PLACE THERE AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE ATM, CAR RENTAL DEPARTMENT AND ONE MORE CAFE WILL BE LOCATED. THE NEW AIRPORT ALSO HAVE SHOPS FOR ENTERTAIN CUSTOMERS AND AFTER THAT THERE WILL BE 18 GATES ON THE NORTH SIDE AND PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL THERE BY TRAIN.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two stages and report several important changes, including the increase from eight to eighteen gates, the addition of shops and a sky train, and new facilities in Arrivals. However, some details are inaccurate or too general: the airport has two main areas, Departures and Arrivals, rather than “two main gates,” and the future check-in is moved to the inner wall beside Arrivals, not grouped with the café and bag drop on the left. The overview also says some features remain the same without clearly distinguishing what changes. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview of the major structural expansion and accurately compare the locations of facilities in both plans.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, a description of the current layout, and then the redevelopment. This helps the reader follow the two stages, and phrases such as “After development” signal the shift clearly. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear because several locations are grouped together without precise relationships. For example, the future description moves from the left side to the opposite side and then to the shops and gates, but does not consistently explain where these features sit in relation to the terminal. Some linking is repetitive, and the opening overview does not clearly organise the main similarities and differences. Use clearer spatial links such as “beside,” “opposite,” and “at the far right,” and group terminal changes separately from concourse changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “check-in counter,” “walkway,” “gates,” “bag drop,” and “train,” so the reader can understand the general subject. There is also an attempt to describe location with phrases such as “left hand side” and “north side.” However, spelling errors are frequent, including “DIFFRENT,” “DESPLAYS,” “LAFT,” and “CUSTUMERS,” and some choices are imprecise: “control room” does not accurately describe security and passport control, while “main gates” confuses terminal areas with entrances. Phrases such as “gates to get enter in flight” are also unnatural. Aim for accurate map terms and standard collocations, and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, including “After entering in the airport through the departure gate…” and “people can reach to the gates by walking.” However, the longer constructions are often faulty, and errors occur throughout. Examples include “The images illustrates,” where the subject and verb do not agree, “there are two control room,” which needs a plural noun, and “the new airport also have,” which needs a singular verb. Articles and sentence structure are also inconsistent, as in “that how it looks after renovation.” These errors sometimes make relationships between features difficult to follow. Practise building accurate basic sentences first, then add subordinate clauses while checking agreement, articles, and verb forms.

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