Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12
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 compare a harbour named Porth before and after its redesign between 2000 and today.
Overall, the harbour has undergone significant changes over time with multiple facilities and amenities to make it more attractive to visitors. More number of docks, passenger ferries and showers & toilets have been installed while the former castle have been changed to a hotel now.
In 2000, the main road led to two entrances to car parks for the visitors. Adjacent to that, shower and toilet facilities were located at the north-west corner. In front of that private yachts, Marina were placed and opposite of that fishing boats were situated which have now swapped places. In the north, a dock for two passenger ferries was located beside which there was beach for people. In the south, a road adjacent to the main road takes to a lifeboat area and at the south-east part of the harbour, a disused castle can be seen which has public beach as well.
Following the reconstruction, a new set of shower & toilet facilities have been arranged beside the car park that are now connected to the main road. Furthermore, another dock for three passenger ferries have been created, expanding the visitor capacity. Moreover, the road leading to lifeboat has been reconstructed properly, creating way to the hotel was previously a castle. Beside the lifeboat, cafes and shops have been included. Even though the public beach at the north remains untouched, the public beach beside the castle has been changed to private beach for the hotel now.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively covers all key features of the harbour's transformation. You successfully identified the major changes, such as the relocation of the yachts and fishing boats, the expansion of ferry docks, and the conversion of the castle into a hotel. The overview provides a clear summary of the general trend of development. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, while you mention the beach, clarifying the specific change in status from public to private for both beaches would have provided a more comprehensive analysis of the spatial shifts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression from an overview to specific details of the past and present. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the time periods. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'In the north', which help guide the reader through the spatial descriptions. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother in the final paragraph. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'reconstruction', 'amenities', and 'disused'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'More number of docks' (which should be 'A greater number of docks') and 'takes to a lifeboat area' (which is slightly unnatural). While you attempt to use more specific vocabulary, some phrasing remains basic. Expanding your repertoire of descriptive verbs and collocations related to urban planning would help elevate your score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the former castle have been changed' (subject-verb agreement) and 'creating way to the hotel was previously a castle' (missing relative pronoun 'which'). Additionally, there are minor issues with articles and prepositions throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses will improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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