Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14

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 plan shows Porth harbour in 2000 and the changes done recently.

In 2000 Porth Harbour had two passenger ferries at the north side alongside the Public beach. However, on the west side there's a castle that is not in good shape close to public beach. there are 2 car park along the main road. Toilets and shower rooms are on the North west side closer to private yachts. Lifeboats is between the fishing boats and the Castle is by the public beach.

The major changes seen today is that there is an addition of passenger ferry with a total of three with a common dock between them. There has also been an addition of showers and toilets on both sides of the main road. The marine (private yachts) has been moved to where the fishing boats were previously located with an extended road towards the Hotel. The castle is now changed to a hotel with a private beach specifically for the hotel. Along side the road there are cafes and shops between private yacht and lifeboats.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour and highlighted the key changes between 2000 and the present day. You covered the addition of the third ferry, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the relocation of the marina. However, the response lacks a clear overview paragraph, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. An overview should summarize the most significant trends, such as the overall modernization and expansion of facilities. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as mentioning 'showers and toilets on both sides of the main road' without clearly contrasting this with the original layout. To improve, ensure you provide a concise summary of the main changes in the introduction or as a separate paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the past to the present. You use some cohesive devices like 'However' and 'The major changes seen today', which assist in linking ideas. However, the use of referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, in the second paragraph, 'the Castle is by the public beach' is mentioned twice, and the transition between the location of the lifeboats and the fishing boats could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices to connect sentences more fluidly and ensure that your referencing is precise and avoids unnecessary repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'addition', 'relocated', 'extended', and 'modernization'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'The marine (private yachts)' is not the standard term; 'marina' would be more appropriate. Additionally, 'changes done' is slightly unnatural; 'changes made' or 'developments' would be better. You also repeat 'public beach' and 'main road' several times. To improve, try to use more varied synonyms and precise terminology related to maps and urban development, such as 'converted into', 'situated', or 'adjacent to', to demonstrate a more flexible range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'there are 2 car park' (should be 'car parks'), 'Lifeboats is' (should be 'The lifeboats are'), and 'Along side the road there are cafes' (should be 'Alongside'). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. To achieve a higher band score, you need to increase the frequency of error-free sentences and pay closer attention to pluralization and subject-verb consistency. Focusing on proofreading for these minor but frequent errors will significantly improve your score.

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

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