Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-30

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 4.0)

The maps illustrate the layout of an airport and proposed redevelopment in the next one year.

Overall, ther are several new amenties for passengers introduced within one year whereas, area is also increased and the number of plains

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the task as a comparison of the airport’s current layout and its proposed redevelopment, and it begins an overview by mentioning new amenities and an increase in area. However, the overview is unfinished, and no specific changes are described: for example, the expanded Y-shaped concourse, the increase from 8 to 18 gates, and the new sky train are all omitted. The statement about the “number of plains” is unclear and does not accurately report a feature of the plan. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words, leaving the task only minimally addressed. To improve, complete the overview and report several clear, accurate changes in the terminal and concourse.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence introduces the maps, followed by a paragraph beginning “Overall,” which signals an overview. This gives the reader a simple starting structure. However, the response stops mid-sentence, so there is no logical progression into details or comparison between the two plans. The overview itself is also incomplete, and the comma after “whereas” interrupts the sentence rather than clarifying the relationship between the ideas. Develop a clear sequence—introduction, overview, then grouped details about the concourse and terminal—and use linking words to show how features change from the current plan to the redevelopment.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “layout,” “redevelopment,” and “amenities,” showing some awareness of the language needed for describing plans. However, the vocabulary is too limited to report the airport’s features, and “number of plains” appears to be an inaccurate word choice for the intended meaning. There are also spelling errors in “ther” and “amenties,” which reduce accuracy. Use precise map vocabulary such as “concourse,” “gates,” “terminal,” and “facilities,” and choose wording that clearly describes the changes. For example, the plans show an increase in the number of gates and the addition of passenger services, rather than an increase in “plains.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both a simple introductory sentence and a more complex overview using “whereas,” which shows some effort to vary sentence structure. The first sentence is understandable, but “in the next one year” is not a natural grammatical construction; “over the next year” would express the time frame more clearly. The second sentence is incomplete, ending after “the number of plains” without a finished clause, so the relationship introduced by “whereas” is not completed. The comma after “whereas” is also misplaced. Aim to write complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check that each clause introduced by a linking word is finished.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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