Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-28

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 maps show the differences between Porth Harbour, currently, and in 2000.

The northern part of the Harbour experienced a few notable changes. The car park that that branches from the main road at the far-left side of the harbour was retained as well as the showers and toilets above it. However, to their right, the Marina was replaced by the fishing boats. An extra dock was also added to the east of the fishing boats to accomodate more passenger ferries making them two docks in total.

Significant alterations were made to the southern part of Porth Harbour. The road that branched to the right from the main road branched upwards into a car park. This road was removed and the car park was retained but was now accessible from a road that The empty space above it now housed new showers and toilets. The fishing boats to the right of the car pack and washrooms were replaced with Marina(private yatchs). Cafes and shops were added to the east of the Marina which was an empty space in 2000. The lifeboat that was loacated at the end

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour changes, but it is incomplete. The final sentence is cut off mid-thought ('The lifeboat that was loacated at the end'), which leaves the description of the southern area unfinished. While you successfully identify key changes like the relocation of the marina and the addition of shops, the lack of a concluding summary or overview paragraph limits the score. To improve, ensure you include a clear overview statement after the introduction that highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the shift from industrial/utility focus to a more commercial/leisure-oriented space) and ensure the response is fully completed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the spatial changes. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the abrupt ending significantly disrupts the flow of the final paragraph. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'accessible from a road that The empty space', where a missing verb or clause makes the sentence structure confusing. To improve, use a wider range of cohesive devices to link your ideas more smoothly and ensure that every sentence is grammatically complete so that the logical progression of your description is not interrupted.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'notable changes', 'significant alterations', and 'accommodate'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'accomodate' (accommodate), 'yatchs' (yachts), and 'loacated' (located). Additionally, the phrasing 'making them two docks in total' is slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure accurate spelling of technical terms related to the map. Expanding your vocabulary to include more descriptive verbs for spatial changes would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'The road that branched to the right from the main road branched upwards into a car park' is repetitive and clunky. There are also issues with sentence fragments and missing words, particularly in the second paragraph. To improve, focus on proofreading your work to ensure that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and try to vary your sentence structure to avoid repetitive phrasing.

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