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)
The plans illustrate a harbour, called the porth harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Overall, there have been several changes in the porth harbour, with additional advanced facilities. However, some areas have remained unchanged.
In the western side, along the main road, the two car parking areas and the showers and toilets have been unchanged in today's harbour. However, a shower and toilet section has been added between the two car parking areas. In 2000, there were marina and fishing boats in the western side of the horbour. In today, the two places have exchanged positions. In the middle of the harvour, there have been added cafes & shops, next to it, the lifeboat has remained unchanged. The disused castle has been replaced by a hotel, and along it, the private beach has been now belonged to the hotel. In the north-eastern side of the harbour, the public beach and the passenger ferries have remained unchanged. There has been added a boat alongside the previous one at the same dock.
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 covers the main features of the harbour plans well. You have successfully identified the key changes, such as the addition of the hotel, the cafes and shops, and the rearrangement of the marina and fishing boats. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while it mentions 'additional advanced facilities,' it could be more specific about the nature of the transformation (e.g., the shift from a more industrial/utilitarian layout to a more commercial/tourist-oriented one). You have made relevant comparisons between 2000 and the present day, which is essential for this task. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the two time periods throughout the body paragraphs to avoid any ambiguity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by location (western side, middle, north-eastern side). This structure helps the reader follow the changes easily. You use some cohesive devices like 'In the western side,' 'However,' and 'In the middle of the harbour.' However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions could be smoother. For example, 'In today, the two places have exchanged positions' is a bit awkward. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the previous one') is always clear will help improve the cohesion of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'disused,' 'replaced,' 'remained unchanged,' and 'advanced facilities.' There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'In today' instead of 'Today' or 'Currently,' and 'the private beach has been now belonged to the hotel,' which is grammatically incorrect. Additionally, there are some spelling errors like 'horbour' and 'harvour' instead of 'harbour.' To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure consistent spelling throughout your response. Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for a higher 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 several grammatical inaccuracies. For instance, 'the private beach has been now belonged to the hotel' should be 'the private beach now belongs to the hotel.' The phrase 'There has been added a boat' is also grammatically awkward; 'A boat has been added' would be more natural. You demonstrate an ability to use passive voice, which is appropriate for describing changes in plans, but the control over these structures is inconsistent. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and avoiding unnecessary passive constructions will improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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