Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-25

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 5.0)

The main difference between before and after redevelopment of airport is space.If you look at the design there was less space for airplanes before but now due to the new and modern design many airplanes can not stand there.There are more lounges and more cafes for people, there are ATM's now which is a very important need of poeple who are travelling.There arre more options for people now before going to immigration or checking.This Y type design is now very common worldwide,because it gives the airport modern look as well as more space for airplanes as well as other entertainment purposes.You see, now airports are way bigger than in the past.Now, you can find almost anything in the airport,many shops to buy sovieneirs, place to sleep, cafes,parks and many other things.Back in the day it was just one or two cafes and toiltes and that it.Nothing for people who have long layover due to which many people get bored.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad idea that the airport is being expanded and mention some genuine additions, including shops, cafés and an ATM. However, the response only partially reports the plans: it does not explain the key layout changes, such as the concourse becoming Y-shaped, the increase from 8 to 18 gates, or the new sky train. It also says there is more space “for airplanes,” whereas the diagram shows expanded passenger facilities and gates, not aircraft parking. General claims about sleeping areas, parks, and entertainment are not shown. To strengthen the report, give a concise overview of the main changes, then compare specific areas in the current and future layouts using only information visible in the plans.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable focus on changes to the airport, and phrases such as “before” and “now” attempt to compare the two plans. However, the ideas are presented as one continuous paragraph, with no clear overview followed by organised details. The discussion moves from space and aircraft to facilities, then to general comments about airports and long layovers, so the reader cannot easily follow a comparison of the actual layouts. Linking phrases such as “You see” are conversational rather than useful for a formal report. Organise the response into an overview and separate paragraphs for the terminal and concourse changes, and use clear references such as “In the departures area” and “By contrast, the arrivals section.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary, including “redevelopment,” “ATM,” “cafes,” and “Y type design,” which helps communicate the general subject. However, the range is limited for describing a plan, and several choices are vague or inaccurate: “airplanes can not stand there” does not describe the gates shown, while “more options” and “other entertainment purposes” do not specify the facilities. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “poeple,” “arre,” “sovieneirs,” and “toiltes,” which reduce clarity and control. Use precise terms for locations and changes, such as “concourse,” “gate,” “relocated,” and “additional facilities,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes some longer sentence attempts, for example the sentence beginning “There are more lounges,” and the sentence explaining why the Y-shaped design is common. However, the structures are often joined without effective punctuation, and errors recur in basic sentence control. Examples include “The main difference between before and after redevelopment of airport is space,” which needs clearer article and comparison structures, and “There are more lounges and more cafes for people, there are ATM's now,” which joins two independent clauses with a comma. Capitalisation and spacing are also inconsistent, as in “space.If” and “airport,many.” Aim for shorter, accurately punctuated sentences first, then add controlled complex structures using conjunctions such as “while” or “whereas.”

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