Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 plans compare the infrastructure of the Porth harbour in 2000 with its present-day arrangements.

Overall, the harbour which had a fairly simple design in 2000 has transitioned into a more commercially serving location due to the addition of various modern amenities.

In 2000, the dock of the harbour was equipped with the handling for two passenger ferries. A disused castle was situated in the south-eastern part, alongside a public beach. Another public beach was by the dock towards the north. A lifeboat was kept at the end of a narrow road, which directly connected to the main road, west to the castle. The western part of the harbour had two car parking areas along with separate areas designated for fishing boats and private yachts. There were enclosed showers and toilets installed at the far north, beside the car park.

In the present day, the dock has been expanded to cater three ferries. The castle has been repurposed as a hotel, that converted the original public beach into a private one, reserved only for theier guests. New cafes and shops are established, west to the lifeboat. The areas for the fishing boats and private yachts are interchanged. The northern public beach, the car parking areas and the toilets at the north are kept unchanged, however, additional showers and toilets are installed beside the southern car park.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour and provided a clear comparison between the two time periods. You covered all the key changes, such as the expansion of the dock, the repurposing of the castle, and the addition of new amenities. The overview is concise and effectively highlights the transition from a simple design to a more commercial one. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, while you mentioned the dock expansion, quantifying the change in ferry capacity or describing the spatial shifts more dynamically would strengthen the response. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the significant developments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that contrast the past and present states. The progression of information is easy to follow, and you use cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'In the present day', and 'however' to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods. To improve further, ensure that referencing is always clear; for example, 'that converted the original public beach' is slightly awkward. Using a wider variety of cohesive devices to link sentences within paragraphs would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'repurposed', 'designated', and 'interchanged' effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'cater three ferries' (should be 'cater to' or 'accommodate') and 'theier' (a spelling error). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise, topic-specific collocations related to urban planning or infrastructure would elevate the lexical quality. The current range is functional and allows for clear communication of the visual information provided in the plans.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional slips, such as 'that converted the original public beach' (which should be a non-defining relative clause with a comma) and the spelling error 'theier'. Your control over tense usage—shifting between the past simple for 2000 and the present perfect for current changes—is generally accurate and helps the reader track the timeline. To achieve a higher score, aim for more consistent accuracy in complex sentence construction and punctuation.

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

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