Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-05

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 maps compare the changes on the southwest airport before and after the development in next year. Overall, it is apparent that airport is very simple before the redevelopment after that number of gates will increase and many other facilities add for passengers such as cafe, ATM and car hire stall.

At present time the airport is very simple, the check in counter for traveller on the left side of departure and cafe is next before security passport control desk. On the upper side there are 8 gate in the middle there is walkway for the passenger. While on the arrival side there is only passport control desk.

According to development plan a lot of facilities add for travellers. Firstly on the departure side there is a cafe on the bottom left corner and bag drop is replaced by check in counter before, while check in counter is placed on cafe area. After the passport control counter there are shops construct and 10 more gates added in the middle there is a sky train for passenger transportation. Furthermore, the gates area change into y-shape. On the arrival side cafe, ATM machine and car hire stall are placed on the right side of this area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main transformation clearly: the gate area expands from eight gates to a Y-shaped layout, and new passenger facilities are added. You also compare the current and planned arrangements and mention several relevant locations, including the café, ATM and car hire. This gives the response a clear overview and covers the main stages. Some details, however, are inaccurate or unclear: the check-in counter is not moved to the café area; it is relocated to the inner wall beside Arrivals, while the new café is in the bottom-left corner. The description of the existing Arrivals area also omits Customs and its entrance, and the new shops’ position could be stated more precisely. More accurate, complete location details would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a sensible overall progression: an introduction and overview are followed by a description of the current airport and then the redevelopment. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and signposts such as “Overall,” “At present time,” and “Furthermore” make the sequence easy to follow. However, some links are mechanical or do not clarify the relationship between details. For example, “Firstly” is followed by several separate changes, while “while” in “While on the arrival side…” does not create a clear contrast with the preceding sentence. The final paragraph also moves between Departures, the concourse and Arrivals without consistently grouping related features. Organising each area more systematically and using clearer references would make the progression more fluent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “redevelopment,” “passport control,” “gates,” “Y-shape,” and “transportation,” so the reader can understand the main changes. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “facilities” and “travellers.” However, the range is not always precise or natural, and several phrases are repeated or awkward: “very simple,” “cafe,” and “car hire stall” do not describe the plan as accurately as more specific alternatives. Expressions such as “on the upper side” and “in the middle” are also vague when describing locations. Aim for consistent, accurate terms such as “terminal,” “concourse,” “counter,” and “along the right-hand wall,” and check collocations and spelling, including “check-in” and “café.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “While” and a sequence introduced by “Furthermore.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but grammatical control is uneven, and errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as longer clauses. For example, “many other facilities add” needs a passive form (“are added”), and “the gates area change into y-shape” needs agreement and an article (“the gate area changes into a Y-shape”). Articles and plurals are also inconsistent in “airport,” “8 gate,” and “the arrival side.” Tense choices shift between present and future without always marking the planned changes clearly. Practise accurate passive constructions for planned developments and check subject–verb agreement, articles and plural forms when editing.

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