Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-09

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)

Two maps comparing a porth harbour looking in past to its present look.

Overall, porth harbour has undergone considerable redevelopment. While dock, passenger ferries and public beach are remained in its original location, cafes and shops as well as more showers and toilets are constructed. The most notable change is that disused castle is converted to hotel.

On the northern and western side of map showers and toilets are constructed besides the car park. Moreover, fishing boats are relocated by reduction and marina is also relocated expanding its place. while adding docks for temporary stay of ships and boats, passenger ferry and public beach are remained in its location at northern side of map.

Furthermore, on the southern and eastern side of map new cafes and shops for visitors are constructed along the waterside behind the lifeboat. The most significant and notable change is hotel that is converted from castle in western side of map.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the relocation of the marina. It provides a clear overview and makes relevant comparisons between the two time periods. However, the description of the changes is occasionally imprecise, such as the phrase 'fishing boats are relocated by reduction,' which is unclear. While the key features are addressed, the report could benefit from more precise quantification or clearer spatial descriptions to fully meet the criteria for a higher band. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'while,' 'moreover,' and 'furthermore' helps to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally ambiguous, such as 'on the northern and western side of map,' which lacks necessary articles. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different areas of the harbour, contributing to a coherent overall structure. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the flow could be improved with more varied linking phrases.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some attempts at topic-specific language like 'redevelopment,' 'relocated,' and 'converted.' However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'porth harbour' (likely a typo for 'port') and 'expanding its place.' The phrasing 'looking in past to its present look' is unnatural. While the range is sufficient to convey the main points, the lack of precision and occasional awkward phrasing prevent a higher score. Expanding the range of descriptive verbs and nouns would enhance the quality of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with article usage (e.g., 'on northern and western side of map') and verb tense consistency (e.g., 'are remained' instead of 'remained'). While these errors are frequent, they do not generally impede communication, and the meaning remains clear. To achieve a higher band, the student should focus on mastering article usage and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing past and present states. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate greater control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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