Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The diagrams illustrate the changes made in the plans of a harbour over the years from 2000 till now. The place is known as the Porth Harbour located along the main road and a large water body.

In the 2000, the Porth Harbour had a small space for docks and private yatchs and dedicated most of its space to the fishing boats. It consisted of two public beaches and car parks along with a disused castle. Today, the castle is reconstructed to a private hotel including their own private beach for the guests. The space for docks and private yatchs increased with the increase of people. Cafes and shops are also included for customer satisfaction.

Over the years, the Porth Harbour transformed, allowing outsiders to reside and visit the port. Showers and toilets are placed more and the empty locations were taken advantage of. This harbour located at the East of the main road has seen many advancements in the years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the harbour, identifying key changes such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the expansion of docking facilities. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary statement that highlights the most significant trends, which is a requirement for a high band score. While the main features are mentioned, the description of the 'today' layout is somewhat fragmented. To improve, you should provide a clear introductory summary that encapsulates the overall transformation of the area, rather than jumping directly into specific details. The comparison between the two time periods is present but could be more analytical regarding the spatial shifts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the 2000 layout to the current state. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'Over the years' and 'Today' are used, but the transition between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the expansion of the docks and the 'increase of people' is a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes effectively. You use some relevant terms like 'reconstructed', 'advancements', and 'dedicated'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and informal phrasing, such as 'yatchs' (spelling error: yachts) and 'customer satisfaction', which is slightly out of place in a formal report about infrastructure. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning or geographical changes, such as 'converted', 'extended', or 'transformed into'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'In the 2000' (should be 'In 2000'), 'yatchs' (spelling), and 'showers and toilets are placed more' (awkward phrasing). The sentence 'The space for docks and private yatchs increased with the increase of people' is grammatically functional but stylistically repetitive. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of complex structures with greater accuracy and ensure that articles and prepositions are used correctly throughout the text.

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