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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 8.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

213 words AcademicTask 1Process Diagram
Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • The clearest overall change is the rise in gate capacity from 8 gates at present to 18 after redevelopment.
  • The airport keeps its basic left-right arrangement: departures are on the left and arrivals on the right.
  • The future plan adds passenger services and replaces the walkway with a sky-train connection.

Suggested structure

  1. Paraphrase the task and identify the airport and planned timeframe.
  2. Give an overview of the largest changes, especially the increase in gates and added facilities.
  3. Describe the present terminal arrangement and its connection to the gates.
  4. Explain the future concourse shape, new services and sky-train link.
  5. End with a concise comparison of what stays similar and what changes.
Useful vocabulary & examples
gate capacity
The number of gates an airport can provide for passengers and aircraft.

The redevelopment will increase gate capacity from 8 to 18.

branch into two arms
To divide into two extending sections from a central point.

The future concourse will branch into two arms.

baggage-drop facilities
Places where passengers can hand over checked luggage.

Baggage-drop facilities are shown in the redeveloped terminal.

sky-train connection
A train link that transports passengers between airport areas.

A sky-train connection will serve the expanded gate area.

Task Prompt

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.
IELTS Writing Task 1 visual

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 8.0

The provided illustration depicts the comparison between the current layout and the proposed plan for the reconstruction of the Southwest Airport next year. Overall, the information shows the plans for the installation of several vital aspects, which are the ATM, sky train, car hire, shopping centre, bag drop, and the expansion of gates. The most significant change is the increase in the number of gates, from 8 at present to 18 after redevelopment. The terminal areas for security and passport control on the left, and passport control and customs on the right, remain in place in the future layout. The departures and arrivals areas are also still positioned along the front of the terminal. The upper concourse is expanded, with additional gates arranged along its two branches. The plan also identifies several facilities in the redeveloped airport. These include a bag drop, an ATM, a sky train and a car-hire service, while check-in and a café are also shown. The current plan already includes check-in, a café and a walkway, as well as gates numbered 1 to 8. In comparison, the new plan labels gates from 1 to 18 and shows a greater range of passenger services. Overall, the redevelopment retains the main terminal functions while substantially increasing gate capacity and adding facilities.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Check the diagram legend item by item before drafting; replace “shopping centre” with the labelled café and avoid adding unshown facilities.
2
State the main numerical comparison directly: gate capacity increases from 8 to 18.
3
Separate retained features from additions: describe the unchanged terminal functions first, then identify the new services and expanded concourse.

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