Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-07
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 6.0)
The plans show the changes that have taken place in Porth harbor between 2000 and today
Overall it is clear that the harbor has undergone significant development. Several new facilities have been added for visitors While some old features have been removed or replaced
In 2000 harbor had two car parks showers and toilets a private yachts marina a fishing boats area a dock passenger ferries a lifeboat a public beach and a disused castle. A road connected the main road to the castle and beach.
Today, a number of changes can be seen. The disused castle has been replaced by a hotel and a private beach has been created for hotel guests. In addition cafes and shops have been built near the lifeboat and the dock has been extended. Another block of showers toilets has been added beside the lower cark park. Furthermore the fishing boat area has been moved to the northern side of the harbor, While the private yachts marina has been relocated to the south. However the passenger ferries life boat and public beach have remained unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour in 2000 and the current day. You have clearly highlighted the key developments, such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the relocation of the marina and fishing area. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the overall changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that you provide more precise comparisons; for example, instead of just stating the dock was extended, you could mention the direction or relative scale of the expansion. The response covers all parts of the task well and maintains a consistent focus on the visual information provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organised with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'However' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is slightly inconsistent, particularly in the introduction where sentences are fragmented. The flow between sentences is generally smooth, but the use of punctuation is occasionally lacking, which makes some sentences feel like run-on thoughts. Improving the use of transition words and ensuring proper sentence boundaries would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergone significant development', 'relocated', and 'extended'. There is some repetition of basic structures, and some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'another block of showers toilets'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations related to describing maps or changes, such as 'transformed into', 'situated to the north', or 'underwent a major renovation'. The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly, but it lacks the variety and precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in punctuation, such as missing commas after introductory phrases and within lists (e.g., 'two car parks showers and toilets'). There are also some minor grammatical slips, such as 'another block of showers toilets' which lacks a preposition or conjunction. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence boundaries and the correct use of articles and prepositions will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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